A new wind will be blowing

Nobles Cooperative Electric will soon have additional energy capacity  through the new wind project near Brewster, Minnesota. The turbine is located in Alba Township which will serve Nobles Cooperative Electric members.

Work is just beginning on the 2.1 megawatt wind turbine adjacent to the Minnesota Soybean Processing Plant. They share the same substation.

In January, equipment began to be delivered to the construction site.

In 2003, Nobles Cooperative Electric was awarded a $500,000 grant for renewable energy and the proposed turbine. The remaining dollars needed are financed through clean renewable energy bonds (CREBs) from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC). Nobles will receive $2.5 million in proceeds from CREBs. CFC is a non-profit finance cooperative that serves rural utility systems, and secured the bond financing as part of a federal program to fund renewable energy projects.

"These wind projects have been in the works as part of our commitment to renewable energy since 2003", said General Manager Richard Burud. "CFC and USDAs assistance was instrumental in securing the financing, which was the difference between doing the project and not doing the project."

Nobles Cooperative Electric contracted with the Suzlon Corporation for the procurement and construction of the wind turbine. Nobles expects to have the new wind turbine operating by May 2008. The turbine is estimated to produce 6,480,000 kilowatt-hours annually to help meet the member's needs. This project will help Nobles toward meeting Minnesota's 25 percent mandate on renewable energy by 2025.

For decades, member-owned electric cooperatives have blazed trails when it comes to developing renewable energy. Today, more than 80 percent of the nation's 900-plus electric cooperatives supply electricity produced by wind, solar, hydro, biomass and other "earth-friendly" sources.