USA - MidAmerican Energy Announces More Wind Energy Generation

MidAmerican Energy and Siemens Energy, Inc. have entered into a turbine supply agreement for 258, 2.3-megawatt wind turbines – a total of 593.4 megawatts, which is enough to power 190,000 homes. The wind turbines will be erected in Cass, Adams, Marshall, Calhoun and Adair counties during 2011.

Additionally, MidAmerican Energy and RPM Access have entered into an asset purchase agreement pursuant to which MidAmerican Energy would acquire RPM Access’ Laurel Wind Farm, near Laurel, Iowa, where approximately 52 of the Siemens wind turbines are planned to be located.

“We are pleased to move forward with these wind energy projects in Iowa. The wind power projects make good economic sense for Iowa and our customers as the state continues to benefit from the construction of additional renewable energy generating capacity,” said Bill Fehrman, president of MidAmerican Energy.

“We appreciate the support of the Iowa Utilities Board, the Office of Consumer Advocate and other state and local officials who have helped make this expansion possible. Working together, we have established an energy strategy that focuses on environmental responsibility, the reliability and diversity of our energy supply, and price stability over the long term.”

MidAmerican Energy began building wind energy projects in 2004 and has made these investments without raising customers’ base electric rates. The company has kept base electric rates stable since 1995.

Fehrman noted the wind farm projects will have a positive economic impact for local communities during construction and beyond. “There are numerous economic benefits on projects like these, including the capital investment by MidAmerican Energy, construction jobs, long-term maintenance jobs, annual payments to landowners and property tax revenues,” Fehrman said.

MidAmerican Energy’s other wind farm projects are located near Schaller, Blairsburg, Carroll, Pomeroy, Charles City, Adair and Walnut, Iowa, and total 1,284.3 megawatts of wind generation. MidAmerican Energy is No. 1 in the nation among rate-regulated utilities in terms of wind generation ownership. When the 593.4-megawatt expansion project is complete, nearly 36 percent of MidAmerican Energy’s total generation capacity will use renewable and noncarbon energy sources.

Siemens Industry, Inc. is the U.S. affiliate of Siemens’ global Industry Sector business – the world’s leading supplier of production, transportation and building technology solutions. The company’s integrated hardware and software technologies enable comprehensive industry-specific solutions for industrial and infrastructure providers to increase their productivity, sustainability and profitability. The Industry Sector includes six divisions: Building Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility, Drive Technologies and OSRAM SYLVANIA.

RPM Access is an independent developer of wind energy projects headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa. The company continues to deliver high-quality, community-friendly and environmentally sound projects to the renewable energy market.

MidAmerican Energy Company is No. 1 in the nation in ownership of wind power electric generation among rate-regulated utilities and has more than 1,393 megawatts of wind farm generating facilities in operation, under construction and under contract in Iowa.

MidAmerican Energy began installing wind turbines in 2004 and has made the investment without raising customers' electric rates. The last base electric rate increase for MidAmerican Energy's Iowa customers was in 1995, and the company has committed to keeping base electric rates for Iowa customers stable until 2014.

Approximately 20 percent of MidAmerican's existing electric generation capability comes from renewable resources.

MidAmerican's parent, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, already is a world leader in renewable energy, with approximately 24 percent of its generating capacity coming from renewable or noncarbon fuel sources. The company's worldwide renewable power sources are wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and biomass.

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