Wind blows by coal to become Iowa's largest source of electricity
A new report from the American Wind Energy Association says wind is now the largest single source of electricity in Iowa.
According to the trade association's Wind Powers America 2019 Annual Report, Iowa is now generating more than 10,000 megawatts of wind energy, accounting for more than 40% of the state's electricity.
Wind became the leading source of electricity in both Iowa and Kansas this year, making them the first states to reach that benchmark. Previously, coal-fired power generation had been Iowa's main source of electricity.
Projects in Iowa added the second-most wind power capacity of any state in 2019, behind only Texas.
The report also says Iowa is second in the nation in total wind industry jobs, with more than 9,000. The state's total economic investment in wind energy grew by $3 billion to reach $19 billion — also second in the nation. Texas leads both categories.
A USA Today report from earlier this year noted the reliable income from wind energy can help steady farmers dealing with a turbulent economy. The AWEA report said land lease payments for Iowa wind projects reached $69 million in 2019.
But the state's rapid investment in wind and other forms of renewable energy has prompted concern by the Iowa Farm Bureau about the loss of farmland. The organization earlier this year supported statewide regulations on where wind and solar farms can be built.
Some Iowans who live near wind farms have complained about the turbines, although researchers say there's little evidence of health impacts.
jough22 on April 17th, 2020 at 20:35 UTC »
Drove through Iowa last month at night. It's really weird that they synced all the lights on the windmills in a single farm to blink in unison. You'll be driving in total darkness, then all of a sudden like 75 red lights are up everywhere.
I assume it's to minimize the annoyance of nearby residents or something (so they aren't blinking all the time), but it's strange to see for the first time.
Fubarp on April 17th, 2020 at 19:54 UTC »
It shocks me to know that Coal was our biggest energy producer for so long when you consider we have two fucking nuke plants in the states. But then you learn that those plants don't feed Iowa Energy.. it feeds Florida.
That said I love the comparison of being in second place to Texas which just dwarfs iowa in Wind power but again its bullshit because how much empty unused land Texas has.
All in all, I'm happy my state is pushing this.
-edit-
So didn't realize this would get big. Wasn't going to make an edit since well didn't think it would get this big but...There's been some information passed onto me that I should correct in here.
There's only 1 plant in Iowa, the second one is technically in the Quad Cities and I've decided that Davenport can be given to Illinois.
Secondly, the current Palo plant is closing down so there be no Nuke plants here anymore. Oh well.
Last thing was that someone linked that the Nuke plant in Palo was selling 70% of it's energy in 2015 to Alliant Energy. So guess it's not going to Florida.
Yeah I guess this should be a good lesson about just accepting things you hear 10 years ago as facts and repeating it. Anyways have a good weekend peeps.
-edit 2-
I meant state instead of states.. My apologies for this miscommunication that has been pointed out to me. There are more than 2 nuke plants in the Country. This can be fact checked with google if anyone wishes to do the leg work.
lookitsjustin on April 17th, 2020 at 19:44 UTC »
Hang on a second. I heard from the United States President that windmills cause cancer. This seems dangerous, everybody.