New Xcel Energy wind farm up and running in SW Minn.
Xcel Energy says its latest wind energy generating facility is up and running.
The Nobles Wind Farm in southwestern Minnesota has just started generating power commercially available to Xcel customers, according to project manager Rick Halet in Minneapolis.
"It's a 201 megawatt project, consisting of 134 1.5 megawatt General Electric turbines. All together they produce enough energy for 66,500 homes," Halet said.
It's one of three major wind energy sources for Xcel customers in Minnesota. The Grand Meadow wind farm, owned by Xcel, generates about 100 megawatts of electricity. Another set of turbines in the Buffalo Ridge project has more than 400 turbines and generators up to 300 megawatts of power.
All told, Xcel says about 8 percent of its power comes from renewable energy projects like the new Nobles Wind Farm.
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