Shakopee will be one of 11 Minnesota cities to be the site of a wind turbine to create renewable electricity under the “Hometown WindPower” program.

Hometown WindPower is an initiative of the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) with member utilities in Anoka, Arlington, Brownton, Buffalo, Chaska, East Grand Forks, Le Sueur, North St. Paul, Olivia, Shakopee and Winthrop.  The program was designed by Avant Energy, also the designer of MMPA’s Faribault Energy Park electric generation facility that celebrated its grand opening in 2007.

The location for the turbine in each community will be determined by local permitting authorities.

“Wind power is most efficient when it can be used at the point of generation, rather than being transmitted many miles away,” said Avant Energy President Derick Dahlen. “Hometown WindPower will put power generation right into the community where it will be used, and it will happen using a clean, endlessly renewable source of power.”

Dave Pokorney, chairman of MMPA and former Chaska city administrator, said every city in the MMPA system can be proud of hosting a turbine.

“All the benefits stay local,” Pokorney said.  “Each city gets locally-generated power that is carbon-free, renewable and environmentally responsible.”

Pokorney said the Hometown WindPower turbines will contribute to MMPA’s requirement under Minnesota law to achieve a goal of 25 percent of its power used to be from renewable resources by 2025.  He said MMPA currently purchases wind and hydro power from outside sources, along with generating electricity from its own facilities, including Faribault Energy Park.

Dahlen pointed out that in this age of environmental awareness, this program is an opportunity for MMPA member communities to become a part of the solution to energy needs in the state with a renewable source that helps avoid the need for building undesirable coal-fired plants.

“Wind is free, it’s there in endless supply, and it’s the cleanest source of energy we have.  I believe these turbines will be positive symbols of communities that are forward-thinking about renewable energy,” Dahlen said.

Each turbine will cost in the neighborhood of $300,000, to be financed by MMPA with renewable energy bonds sold to investors.  MMPA has committed to purchase the wind turbine equipment for the program from enXco Services Corp. of California.

“We expect to begin installation of the turbines in the spring of 2009 with installation at all locations completed over the summer,” said Avant Energy project manager Dave Boyles.

MMPA is committed to providing its eleven member communities with competitively priced, reliable and sustainable energy. Avant Energy serves as MMPA’s energy management company, including developing generation facilities, as well as buying and selling energy for MMPA.