ALLETE announces 40-megawatt purchase of wind turbines from GE Renewable Energy

ALLETE Clean Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALLETE Inc. announced Wednesday a 40-megawatt purchase of wind turbines from GE Renewable Energy.

The turbines qualify for 80 percent of the Production Tax Credit (PTC). They would create more than 400 megawatts of additional qualified wind projects through 2021, bringing ALLETE Clean Energy’s total wind project opportunity to approximately 1,500 megawatts.

“The purchase of these PTC turbines will enhance our positioning to capitalize on the rapid growth of renewable energy evident throughout our country,” ALLETE Chair, President and CEO Al Hodnik said. “We are confident in ALLETE Clean Energy’s performance as an earnings engine as we answer the nation’s call to transform its energy and water landscape.”

ALLETE is also refurbishing some of its existing wind sites in Minnesota and Iowa. An expansion wind project with Montana-Dakota Utilities (MDU) in North Dakota is also underway.

“Adding to our PTC qualified inventory will ensure ALLETE Clean Energy’s continued growth and demonstrates the robust pipeline of project opportunities we are pursuing that will utilize this qualified capacity,” Al Rudeck, president of ALLETE Clean Energy, said. “In working with our customers in the industry to accelerate the development of clean energy, we are finding the GE brand, reputation and breadth of offerings will bring significant value as we advance several new and exciting projects.”