DES MOINES, Iowa – MidAmerican Energy Company, ITC Midwest LLC (ITC) and Iowa Energy Center once again join Iowa State University Athletics and its multimedia rights holder, Cyclone Sports Properties, to make Jack Trice Stadium “green” this Saturday by offsetting 100 percent of the electricity used during the football game against Baylor with wind energy.
To offset the electricity used during the game, Learfield’s Cyclone Sports Properties will use renewable energy certificates donated from MidAmerican Energy’s Pomeroy wind farm, located in Pocahontas County, Iowa. This use of wind energy represents a reduction of approximately 22 tons of carbon dioxide emissions – roughly equivalent to the emissions produced from 2,277 gallons of gasoline.
This specific game was chosen to bring awareness to the economic and environmental benefits of wind as the states of Iowa and Texas lead the U.S. in wind energy generation, and Iowa derives a greater percentage of its electricity from wind than any other state.
“We’re proud to partner with Iowa State to provide football fans with an opportunity to learn about the benefits of wind energy,” said Mike Fehr, vice president of resource development for MidAmerican Energy. “We recently announced plans to build our biggest wind project ever, which will bring us closer to our vision of generating renewable energy each year that is equal to 100 percent of our Iowa customers’ usage. And, our customers appreciate that we are building the Wind XI project without asking for an increase in customer rates or financial assistance from the state to pay for it. This event is a great way to celebrate our vision and create awareness for the economic and environmental benefits of wind.”
“As the nation’s largest independent electric transmission company, ITC plays an essential part in making sure all power generators, including Iowa’s wind farms, have access to the regional electric transmission grid,” said Krista Tanner, ITC Midwest president. “This partnership is another way to draw attention to the role electric transmission and wind energy play in Iowa’s economy.”
MidAmerican Energy, ITC Midwest and the Iowa Energy Center serve as sponsors for the event. During the game, the groups will be recognized on the field for their leadership in wind energy, and will promote wind through radio interviews on the Cyclone Radio Network and in-game video board messaging.
“For nearly 30 years the Iowa Energy Center has been providing Iowans with reliable energy information and innovation,” said Interim Director Mufit Akinc, “Through our grant programs, loan program, and research, the Energy Center serves as a valuable asset for all Iowans. Whether you’re a homeowner, student, architect, researcher, engineer, building operation and manufacturing professional or business owner, we provide resources to serve Iowans needs as energy consumers and innovators.”
MidAmerican Energy is No. 1 in the U.S. among rate-regulated utilities in terms of wind generation ownership. In August, the company received approval from the Iowa Utilities Board to build Wind XI, moving the company closer toward its 100 percent renewable vision. Expected to be complete by the end of 2019, Wind XI will consist of 1,000 wind turbines and will add up to 2,000 megawatts of wind generation in Iowa. The project is expected to generate more than $1.2 billion in landowner easement and property tax payments as well as create thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent jobs.
Since its arrival in Iowa in 2007, ITC has completed 25 connections of new electric generators, allowing multiple wind energy developers to access the grid in Iowa and Minnesota. ITC has enabled approximately 2,650 megawatts of additional electric generation capacity to serve the region, most of it from wind energy.
Iowa State University’s football game against Baylor begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. The game will be televised on FS1.
Cyclone Sports Properties
Cyclone Sports Properties is a property of Learfield, which manages multimedia rights for 120 collegiate properties nationwide and titles the prestigious Learfield Directors’ Cup. Learfield represents collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas for their respective multimedia rights and sponsorship initiatives, and offers these partners with professional concessions and ticket sales, licensing and trademark consulting, digital platform expertise and venue and technology systems through its owned companies.
ITC Midwest
ITC Midwest LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company. ITC Midwest operates more than 6,600 circuit miles of transmission lines in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri and has utility status in Wisconsin. The company is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and maintains operating locations at Dubuque, Iowa City and Perry, Iowa; and Albert Lea and Lakefield, Minn.
Iowa Energy Center
The Iowa Energy Center was created by the Iowa General Assembly and signed into law in 1990. The Energy Center supports economic development, environmental sustainability, and social well-being in Iowa through energy innovation, education, and entrepreneurship. We provide Iowans with reliable, objective information on energy and efficiency options.
MidAmerican Energy Company
MidAmerican Energy Company is an energy provider serving 752,000 electric customers and 733,000 natural gas customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. It is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Information about MidAmerican Energy is available on the company’s website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via MidAmerican Energy Company’s website.