Des Moines, Iowa, January 20, 2012 — MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company announced its agreement to buy the 81-MW Bishop Hill II wind project from Invenergy Wind. This project, which currently is in construction in Henry County, Ill., will feature 50 GE 1.62-MW wind turbines.
Bishop Hill II is located near the town of Galva, about 40 miles northwest of Peoria, Ill. Construction began in fourth quarter 2011, and Bishop Hill II is expected to be in commercial operation in fourth quarter 2012. Ameren Illinois will purchase the electricity from the project pursuant to the terms of a 20-year power purchase agreement.
Bishop Hill II is the second phase of Invenergy's Bishop Hill Wind Energy Center. The first phase, Bishop Hill I, also is under construction in Henry County and is due to commence commercial operations in 2012.
MidAmerican began building wind energy projects in 2004. Its first wind project was constructed in Iowa. The company has built or acquired more than 3,300 MW of wind generation. MidAmerican has invested about $6 billion in wind-powered generation, with projects in Iowa, Wyoming, Washington and Oregon.
