Missouri Lags in Wind Development

The wind farm in Atchison County, Missouri is one of six wind farms in the state that generate a total of 459 megawatts of power.

When it comes to wind development, Missouri lags behind its neighbors, according to a new report. The American Wind Association's 2012 Annual Market report shows that Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois have each added at least 1,400 megawatts each.

The last wind farm in Missouri was the 150 megawatt Lost Creek wind farm. It is also the state's largest wind farm. It was completed two and a half years ago, and no wind projects have been developed since. The six wind farms in Missouri can generate 459 megawatts of power, which are mostly sold to utilities.

"Missourians in 2008 voted 2-1 to approve a state renewable energy standard, a measure requiring utilities to gradually ramp up use of renewable resources through 2021, when 15 percent of power they sold to consumers would have to come from the wind, sun, or other renewable sources."

Although the ballot initiative has yet to trigger the kind of wind development envisioned, there are several groups looking to add wind energy to Missouri. The Show-Me state ranked as number 13 in the wind association's rank of the top 20 states for wind energy potential.

So the potential and wind resource is there to further develop wind energy in Missouri. And as wind turbine technology advances, it will continue to improve the economics of wind as an energy source.

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

By Gaylen Davenport