Oak Glen Wind Farm

Oak Glen Wind Farm

The Oak Glen Wind Farm is an important component of MMPA’s commitment towards generating its own sustainable power supply. This 44 megawatt power generation source located in Steele County, MN supports MMPA’s dedication to carbon-free and renewable energy.

Clean and Sustainable Electricity

On October 31, 2011, Oak Glen Wind Farm (OGWF) entered commercial operation—two months ahead of schedule and 10% under budget— as the largest municipally-owned wind project in the state of Minnesota. This 44 MW wind project generates enough electricity to power 14,000 homes per year.

The project started in 2006 with a request for transmission from the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO). After years of development that included; feasibility planning, agreements with landowners, transmission interconnection, financing arrangements, permitting from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and equipment purchase, the OGWF broke ground in the spring of 2011.

Oak Glen Wind Farm reflects MMPA’s commitment to sustainable energy.

OGWF generates electricity that comes with a renewable attribute called a REC. A REC represents 1,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity generated – meaning for every 1,000 kWhs of electricity produced from a renewable generator, one REC is created. RECs generated by OGWF are made available to sell to third parties in order to lower rates for our customers, and a portion are reserved for future Minnesota Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards compliance. Electricity stripped of RECs is no longer considered renewable as that electricity’s environmental attribute has been sold.

Community Investment

MMPA seeks to be a good neighbor to the communities in which we operate by providing benefits to the host community. At Faribault Energy Park, we were successful  by providing education about power generation to school and community groups. At Oak Glen Wind Farm we applied the same model by providing a wind education facility to the Blooming Prairie community. The education facility includes a gazebo and wind education signage. The signage includes information about how wind is harnessed to create electricity. It also helps visitors understand how electricity is produced in ways that protect the environment.

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