Vestas Windenergy News: Vestas awarded service and maintenance contract for 121 wind turbines in Iowa

Under the agreement, Alliant Energy chose the Active Output Management (AOM) 2000 service option. This consists of scheduled maintenance and VestasOnline(r), a surveillance system that allows Vestas to monitor and remotely control the turbines to ensure the turbines are running optimally.

"We are fortunate to work with the high-caliber team at Alliant Energy," said Chris Brown, President of Vestas' sales and service division in the U.S. and Canada. "Our V82-1.65 MW turbine is a proven performer across North America with a high availability. This service contract also ensures jobs for Vestas employees who make sure the turbines operate safely and with maximum electrical output."

Vestas has performed service and maintenance at Whispering Willow Wind Farm - East since the site began operations in 2009. The wind power plant can produce enough electricity for about 50,000 households.

"Our company is pleased to partner with Vestas to extend our service and maintenance agreement for our 200 megawatt Whispering Willow Wind Farm - East," said Tom Aller, Senior Vice President of Energy Resource Development at Alliant Energy. "Renewable energy is a key component of our long-term energy resource supply. As a result, we need a company that can keep our wind generating facilities operating at an optimum level. Vestas is an industry leader in servicing and maintaining wind generating facilities. Our partnership with Vestas provides good jobs for working families and ensures that this wind farm will continue to produce emissions-free energy for the benefit of our customers safely and efficiently."

Alliant Energy owns three other projects using the V82-1.65 MW turbine. In December, Alliant Energy began commercial operations at the Franklin County Wind Farm in Iowa, which includes 60 V82-1.65 MW turbines. In 2008, Alliant first worked with Vestas to build the Cedar Ridge Wind Farm in Wisconsin, which consists of 41 V82-1.65 MW turbines. Vestas also supplied 122 of these turbines to the Bent Tree Wind Farm in Minnesota, which began commercial operations in 2011.

Alliant Energy's utility operations provide electricity and natural gas to more than 1.4 million customers in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.