MidAmerican Wind Energy

For more information, contact:
Ann Thelen, Director of Media Relations, at 515-281-2785
Mark Reinders, Communications Manager, at 712-277-7866

DES MOINES, Iowa – (April 28, 2009) – MidAmerican Energy Company has earned first-in-the-nation status for installation of wind generation, according to a recent report from the American Wind Energy Association.

The report shows MidAmerican is the national leader in ownership of wind generation among regulated utilities. MidAmerican’s efforts also have helped Iowa claim second place honors in the nation in the amount of wind generation nameplate capacity, following only Texas.

The majority of the wind generation in Iowa over the past five years has occurred through investments by MidAmerican. The utility owns and operates approximately 1,284 megawatts of wind generation at eight projects in Iowa. Nearly 20 percent of MidAmerican’s generating capacity uses wind resources.

“MidAmerican Energy is committed to helping Iowa become a leader in the development of renewable energy,” said Bill Fehrman, president of MidAmerican Energy Company. “What we’re doing is good for Iowa, good for the environment and good for our customers.”

A new building under construction at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines will showcase the commitment by MidAmerican and the state of Iowa to wind generation and serve as an educational tool for visitors. MidAmerican’s new Energy Education Center will be open in time for the 2009 Iowa State Fair in mid-August.

MidAmerican began building wind projects in 2004 and has expanded its wind generation capacity without impacting customers’ electric rates. The price of electricity per kilowatt-hour – the electric rate – for MidAmerican customers is lower today than it was in 1995, and the company has committed to keep base electric rates stable for its Iowa customers through at least 2013.

The AWEA study shows wind energy generating capacity in the United States exceeds 25,000 megawatts, estimated to produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of nearly 7 million households. MidAmerican added approximately 625 megawatts – nearly 40 percent – of the total 1,600 megawatts AWEA reports were added across Iowa in 2008.

MidAmerican’s multi-billion dollar investment in the placement of 833 wind turbines across Iowa’s landscape during the past five years has brought significant economic development in Iowa. Additionally, Iowa has been able to attract several companies involved in the manufacturing of wind generation equipment and supplies.

“MidAmerican’s wind generation projects have – and continue to support – necessary growth in the economy. The company’s investment in the development of these projects creates jobs and offers secondary benefits, including annual lease payments to Iowa landowners and increased property taxes, while providing continued stable base electric rates to MidAmerican customers that have been in effect for more than a decade,” Fehrman said.

MidAmerican and an affiliated utility in the Pacific Northwest – Portland, Ore.-based PacifiCorp – added a combined total of more than 1,000 megawatts of owned wind energy generating capacity in 2008. PacifiCorp ranks No. 2 in national standings among rate-regulated utilities for installation of wind generation.