Construction of NSP's Phase II
Wind Power Project Is Underway

The construction of Northern States Power Company's second wind farm along the Buffalo Ridge got underway last month when crews began constructing roads in Drammen Township [near Lake Benton!].

Two weeks ago, a crew from D. H. Blattner & Sons of Avon began preparing the sites for the wind turbines that will be constructed. During preliminary work last week, approximately 20 bases were dug by large cranes and 20 mud slabs were poured. This week they started the rebar and iron work and they began pouring the concrete bases. Each base consists of a hole dug six feet deep that is 38' x 38' in size.

The first phase of NSP's wind power plant was constructed by Kenetech Windpower, Inc., San Francisco, CA in 1994. Phase I is a 25 megawatt system and when Phase II is completed it will be a 100 megawatt system.

The Minnesota state legislature has mandated NSP to built 425 megawatts of wind powered energy by the year 2002.

The Ivanhoe Times (July 24, 1997)

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