Meadow Lake Wind Farm
Encyclopedia
Meadow Lake Wind Farm is a wind farm
near Brookston
and Chalmers, Indiana
, spreading over portions of White
, Jasper
, and Benton
Counties in Indiana
, owned and operated by Horizon Wind Energy
. The wind farm is undergoing construction in phases, and could eventually reach a combined nameplate capacity
of 1000 MW with over 600 wind turbine
s.
V82 1.65 MW wind turbine
s, for a total nameplate capacity
of 199.65 MW. Groundbreaking ceremonies occurred on April 14, 2009. Phase I became operational in October, 2009. At that time, Horizon had not completed a power purchase agreement with a utility company. Instead, Horizon began selling the wind farm's output to the regional wholesale electricity market
.
Horizon built a substation next to an existing AEP
substation
which was already within the wind farm site area. This allowed the wind farm to connect to the power grid without the need to build lengthy new transmission line at a cost of $1 million per mile.
wind turbines having a combined nameplate capacity of 99 MW.
S88 2.1 MW turbines. They can generate enough electricity to power approximately 27,000 average Indiana homes. This phase began commercial operation in October 2010.
Phase I spreads over 26000 acres (105.2 km²) on a ten by six mile area. Since large wind turbines must be spaced at least 5 to 10 rotor diameters apart to avoid wind shadowing, most of the land between turbines remains productive farmland. Only about 250 acres (1 km²) of farmland have been taken out of production by the 121 turbines.
In early 2010, a Horizon representative and local renewable energy advocates scouted the Meadow Lake project area for a location to build a visitor center. One possibility was an unused building near the intersection of I-65
and US-231
(40.667692°N 87.04073°W), near where a wind turbine will be installed within the next year.
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
near Brookston
Brookston, Indiana
Brookston is a town in Prairie Township, White County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,554 as of the 2010 census.-Geography:Brookston is located at ....
and Chalmers, Indiana
Chalmers, Indiana
Chalmers is a town in Big Creek Township, White County, Indiana, United States. The population was 508 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Chalmers is located at ....
, spreading over portions of White
White County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,267 people, 9,727 households, and 7,090 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 12,083 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
, Jasper
Jasper County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,043 people, 10,686 households, and 8,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,236 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
, and Benton
Benton County, Indiana
Benton County is located along in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Indiana, along the border with Illinois. As of 2010, the county's population was 8,854. It contains six incorporated towns as well as several small unincorporated settlements; it is also divided into 11 townships which...
Counties in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, owned and operated by Horizon Wind Energy
Horizon Wind Energy
EDP Renewables North America is a wind energy developer based in Houston, Texas...
. The wind farm is undergoing construction in phases, and could eventually reach a combined nameplate capacity
Nameplate capacity
Nameplate capacity, also known as the rated capacity, nominal capacity, installed capacity or maximum effect, refers to the intended technical full–load sustained output of a facility such as a power plant, a chemical plant, fuel plant, metal refinery, mine, and many others.For dispatchable power,...
of 1000 MW with over 600 wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
s.
Phase I
Phase I consists of 121 VestasVestas
Vestas Wind Systems A/S is a Danish manufacturer, seller, installer, and servicer of wind turbines. It is the largest in the world, but due to very rapid growth of its competitors, its market share decreased from 28% in 2007 to 12.5% in 2009...
V82 1.65 MW wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
s, for a total nameplate capacity
Nameplate capacity
Nameplate capacity, also known as the rated capacity, nominal capacity, installed capacity or maximum effect, refers to the intended technical full–load sustained output of a facility such as a power plant, a chemical plant, fuel plant, metal refinery, mine, and many others.For dispatchable power,...
of 199.65 MW. Groundbreaking ceremonies occurred on April 14, 2009. Phase I became operational in October, 2009. At that time, Horizon had not completed a power purchase agreement with a utility company. Instead, Horizon began selling the wind farm's output to the regional wholesale electricity market
Electricity market
In economic terms, electricity is a commodity capable of being bought, sold and traded. An electricity market is a system for effecting purchases, through bids to buy; sales, through offers to sell; and short-term trades, generally in the form of financial or obligation swaps. Bids and offers use...
.
Horizon built a substation next to an existing AEP
American Electric Power
American Electric Power is a major investor-owner electric utility in various parts of the United States. AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S...
substation
Electrical substation
A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions...
which was already within the wind farm site area. This allowed the wind farm to connect to the power grid without the need to build lengthy new transmission line at a cost of $1 million per mile.
Phase II
Phase II began operation in June 2010, with 66 AccionaAcciona
Acciona, S.A., is a Spanish conglomerate group dedicated to civil engineering, construction and infrastructure.The company was founded in 1997 through the merger of Entrecanales y Tavora and Cubiertas y MZOV. The company's headquarters is in Alcobendas, Community of Madrid, Spain. The company's U.S...
wind turbines having a combined nameplate capacity of 99 MW.
Phase III
Phase III began commercial operation in October 2010, with 69 GE sle 1.5 MW wind turbines having an installed capacity of 103.5 MW.Phase IV
Phase IV has an installed capacity of 98.7 MW generated by 47 SuzlonSuzlon Energy
Suzlon Energy is a global wind power company based in India. In terms of market share, the company is the fifth largest wind turbine manufacturer in Asia...
S88 2.1 MW turbines. They can generate enough electricity to power approximately 27,000 average Indiana homes. This phase began commercial operation in October 2010.
Environmental impact
At the planned nameplate capacity of 1000 MW, Meadow Lake would be one of the largest wind farms in the world, generating enough electricity to power about 250,000 homes, annually saving 1,684 million gallons of water and eliminating 3.1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Phases I and II should eliminate just under one million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.Phase I spreads over 26000 acres (105.2 km²) on a ten by six mile area. Since large wind turbines must be spaced at least 5 to 10 rotor diameters apart to avoid wind shadowing, most of the land between turbines remains productive farmland. Only about 250 acres (1 km²) of farmland have been taken out of production by the 121 turbines.
In early 2010, a Horizon representative and local renewable energy advocates scouted the Meadow Lake project area for a location to build a visitor center. One possibility was an unused building near the intersection of I-65
Interstate 65
Interstate 65 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States. The southern terminus is located at an intersection with Interstate 10 in Mobile, Alabama, and its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 , U.S. Route 12, and U.S...
and US-231
U.S. Route 231
U.S. Route 231 is a parallel route of U.S. Route 31. It currently runs for 912 miles from St. John, Indiana, at U.S. Route 41 to south of U.S. Route 98 in Downtown Panama City, Florida.One of its most notable landmarks is the William H...
(40.667692°N 87.04073°W), near where a wind turbine will be installed within the next year.
See also
- Wind power in IndianaWind power in IndianaWind power in Indiana was limited to a few small water-pumping windmills on farms until 2008 with construction of Indiana's first utility-scale wind power facility, Goodland with a nameplate capacity of 130 MW. In 2009, three more wind farms opened: Fowler Ridge , Meadow Lake , and Hoosier...
- Benton County Wind FarmBenton County Wind FarmThe Benton County Wind Farm consists of 87 model sl/sle Gen4 GE 1.5 MW wind turbines near Earl Park, Indiana in northern Benton County, Indiana. The farm's nameplate capacity is 130.5 MW. It began commercial operation in April 2008. At the time of its construction, it was Indiana's only...
- Benton County, IndianaBenton County, IndianaBenton County is located along in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Indiana, along the border with Illinois. As of 2010, the county's population was 8,854. It contains six incorporated towns as well as several small unincorporated settlements; it is also divided into 11 townships which... - Fowler Ridge Wind FarmFowler Ridge Wind FarmThe Fowler Ridge Wind Farm currently consists of two completed phases with the possibility of a third phase some time in the near future. The wind farm is in Benton County, Indiana, near the city of Fowler, IN about northwest of Lafayette and northwest of Indianapolis...
- Benton County, Indiana - Meadow Lake Wind Farm - WhiteWhite County, IndianaAs of the census of 2000, there were 25,267 people, 9,727 households, and 7,090 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 12,083 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
, JasperJasper County, IndianaAs of the census of 2000, there were 30,043 people, 10,686 households, and 8,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,236 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
, and BentonBenton County, IndianaBenton County is located along in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Indiana, along the border with Illinois. As of 2010, the county's population was 8,854. It contains six incorporated towns as well as several small unincorporated settlements; it is also divided into 11 townships which...
Counties