ALLETE to invest $80 million into Minnesota, Iowa wind farm refurbishment

In an effort to enhance the performance and reliability of their wind-based energy generation, ALLETE
Clean Energy announced this week it would be pumping $80 million into refurbishment of 385 turbines across Minnesota and Iowa.

As part of the project, blades, gearboxes and generators on turbines across three separate wind farms will be replaced. In addition, new communications infrastructure–including fiber optic connections, servers and management systems–will be installed to up performance. The Duluth, Minnesota-based company also
stands to gain something more immediate from the arrangement: federal production tax credits.

“As a central part of ALLETE Clean Energy’s multifaceted growth strategy, this $80 million reinvestment will contribute to future earnings growth,” Allan S. Rudeck Jr., president of ALLETE Clean Energy, said. “Revenue from our existing wind sites such as Lake Benton and Storm Lake is the foundation for ALLETE Clean Energy’s momentum and growth. Neighboring communities also benefit by keeping these older sites viable and valuable, which maintains jobs and landowner lease payments.”

The refurbishment will take until 2020, with efforts made to minimize turbine downtime. ALLETE Clean Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of ALLETE Inc., established in 2011 to capitalize on developments in wind, solar, biomass, hydro, natural gas, shale resources, clean coal technology and other energy innovations.