Cutting of the Ribbon
Everything about the wind industry is good, good, good, . . . good for agriculture, good for the environment, and good for jobs.
West Des Moines, IA (PRWEB) October 12, 2012
RPM Access announces the addition of the 36 megawatt Hawkeye Wind Farm to its portfolio of projects. Located in Iowa's Fayette County, the Hawkeye project hosted a ribbon cutting Oct. 8 2012. The keynote speaker and guest of honor was Senator Chuck Grassley, senior senator from Iowa widely regarded to be the “father of the PTCs [Production Tax Credit]”. Speaking from the shelter of the 2.5 megawatt Nordex turbine on a blustery day in the midst of another Iowa harvest season, the Senator reminded the gathering of landowners, local officials, and others of the importance of the wind industry to the nation. In the Senators words: “everything about the wind industry is good, good, good, . . . good for agriculture, good for the environment, and good for jobs. “
Also speaking at the event were local City and County officials: Brent Ungerer, Mayor of Hawkeye, Jeanine Tellin and Vicki Rowland, Fayette County Board of Supervisors and Leon Dietzenback, President of the Hawkeye Economic Development Corporation. All were unanimous in their support for the project and welcoming the Hawkeye wind farm to the community. Mayor Ungerer and Mr. Dietzenback both related how the RPM Access’ decision to build the operations and maintenance building for the project in the city of Hawkeye had “jump-started an industrial park that had languished for years”. The infrastructure installed by the Hawkeye Wind Farm attracted another business to commit to the site even before the Wind Farm building was completed.
Ralph Sigrist, president of Nordex USA, made the journey from Chicago to Hawkeye to congratulate RPMAccess on another completed project, stating that “Hawkeye is the third RPMAccess project to use the Nordex turbines made at their new plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas. “
Construction of the Hawkeye wind energy project commenced in November 2011. Major components arrived and were erected during the 2012 summer construction season. Full commercial operation date was October 1, 2012. The Hawkeye project consists of 15 Nordex 2.5 megawatt turbines, manufactured at Nordex’ Jonesboro-Arkansas facility, with the capacity to generate clean renewable energy for more than 12,000 homes. Central Iowa Power Cooperative (“CIPCO”) based in Cedar Rapids-Iowa will purchase the power generated by the project under a 25-year power purchase agreement. M.A. Mortenson of Minneapolis-Minnesota is the construction contractor for the project.
The Hawkeye Wind Farm is one of three RPM Access’ projects under construction this year. RPM Access is completing the Hawkeye and Rippey Wind Farm in Greene County, simultaneously and MidAmerican Energy Company is currently building the Vienna Wind Farm in Iowa's Marshall County, a project acquired from RPM Access in 2012.
About RPM Access LLC
RPM Access, based in West Des Moines, Iowa is a successful developer and builder of utility scale wind farms. Large 100+ Mega Watt projects have been developed for, and sold to, major utilities. RPM Access has built and currently owns three projects in the 30 to 50 MW size, in Fayette, Delaware, and Greene counties, Iowa.
Despite the uncertainties that lie ahead regarding the availability of tax-based incentives, RPM Access has been bullish on the industry and continues to develop projects in Iowa and Kansas.
For more information on RPM Access and their projects, please visit the web site: http://www.rpmaccess.com