Turbines on Iowa wind farm start churning, producing electricity to power 50,000 homes

New Iowa wind farm starts up in Franklin County

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The turbines on a northeast Iowa wind farm began generating power this week and will produce up to 200 megawatts of electricity.

Alliant Energy Corp. spokeswoman Nancy Craig says the company’s first wind farm in Iowa will produce enough electricity to power 50,000 homes.

Construction on the 121 wind turbines began in 2008. The turbines are at the 144-square-mile Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East in Franklin County, near Hampton.

Craig says the wind farm will not replace any current electricity-producing operations.