Vestas awaits approval for 1,000-turbine deal in Iowa

Vestas Wind Systems, which has four Colorado manufacturing plants, has entered into a conditional agreement to provide up to 1,000 wind turbines for an Iowa wind energy project. The deal ¡ª which would mark the company¡¯s largest single order to date ¡ª is not yet certain and is awaiting approval from the Iowa Utilities Board. The Denmark-based wind energy giant announced last week its intentions to work with MidAmerican Energy Company to provide up to 1,000 2-megawatt wind turbines for the Wind Xl project in Iowa, according to a news release. The company¡¯s largest order this year, in Norway, represents just half of the expected Iowa order. The conditional agreement includes supply and commissioning of the wind turbines, as well as a five-year service agreement, with the option for 10 years. If approved by the Iowa Utilities Board, delivery and commissioning of the turbines will start this year, going through 2019. ¡°This project, if approved, will bring considerable economic benefits to MidAmerican¡¯s rate payers and communities, and Vestas is proud to partner with MidAmerican Energy in their commitment to generate 100 percent renewable energy,¡± Chris Brown, president of Vestas¡¯ sales and service division in the United States and Canada, said in the release. So far this year, Vestas has received three orders in the United States representing 578 MW of wind power generation. Most orders in North America are manufactured in Colorado.