RPM Access LLC (RPMA), an independent wind developer in Iowa, announced the partial commercial operation of its 41 MW Elk Wind Farm near Greeley, Iowa, the purchase of 35 Nordex 2.5 MW turbines and commencement of construction of its 36 MW Hawkeye Wind Farm near West Union, Iowa and its 50 MW Rippey Wind Farm near Grand Junction, Iowa. RPMA anticipates full commercial operation of its Elk Wind Farm before the end of this year and also full commercial operation of its Hawkeye and Rippey Wind Farms by the end of fall, 2012.
Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO), Iowa's largest cooperative energy provider, also announced today it has begun receiving renewable energy from RPMA’s Elk Wind Farm and will also purchase the renewable energy from RPMA’s Hawkeye and Rippey Wind Farms.
“Over 95 percent of CIPCO’s electricity is generated in Iowa and with the commitments of the Rippey and the Hawkeye facilities, CIPCO’s carbon‐free and emissions‐free resources will be over 50 percent by 4th quarter 2012,” stated Dennis Murdock, CEO and Executive Vice President of CIPCO. “The addition of these two wind farms further enhances our commitment to local energy production and environmental stewardship. And, we are proud to partner with a local developer like RPM Access on another wind project that is good for rural Iowa and good for our members.”
“We appreciate CIPCO’s continued confidence in our team and are excited to continue to provide Iowa’s rural communities with a low‐cost, predictable long‐term source of renewable energy,” said Mr. Stephen Dryden, Principal of RPM Access. “We are also very grateful for the support provided by the landowners and local communities that host and welcome our projects.”
When complete, the Elk, Hawkeye and Rippey wind projects will utilize a total of 52 Nordex N100/2500 2.5 MW turbines on 328 foot high towers, the highest wind turbines in Iowa. All construction activities at Elk are essentially done. Onsite road, laydown and substation construction activities at both Hawkeye and Rippey have already started.