We could see more windmills coming to rural Iowa through a Mid American Energy project called WindPRIME. The Iowa Utilities Board has published two internal studies by Des Moines-based Mid American Energy showing renewable-energy sources are a cost-effective path away from fossil fuels. The studies cite cost-effective ways to build the project without relying on fossil fuels as a secondary energy source. The 4-billion-dollar project would dot even more of Iowa’s landscape with wind turbines. Mid American has said Wind Prime could generate 50 megawatts of solar power and more than 2-thousand megawatts of wind energy, and is part of its commitment to provide net-zero emissions to its customers.  Regulators have not given Mid American final approval to build Wind Prime and there is no timeline on when that decision will be made.

Zach Tomesch, News Director KFJB