At the end of 2011, the installed capacity for wind power in Minnesota was 2,733 megawatts (MW).[3]Wind farms generated 12.7% of the electricity generated in the state in 2011.[4] Large wind farms in Minnesota include the Buffalo Ridge Wind Farm (225 MW), the Fenton Wind Farm (205.5 MW), the Nobles Wind Farm (201 MW) and the Bent Tree Wind Farm (201 MW).[5][6][7]
Fenton wind farm at sunrise
Transmission grid improvements
The CapX2020 project (capacity expansion 2020) is developing the transmission grid infrastructure to improve capacity, reliability, and support further wind power development. The project is mostly in Minnesota but reaches into North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin as well. One phase of the project, a line from Monticello to St. Cloud was completed in 2011. Other lines will run from near Brookings, South Dakota to Hampton, Minnesota, from Fargo, North Dakota to St. Cloud, and from LaCrosse, Wisconsin to Hampton.
The project involves constructing about 590 miles of 345 kV transmission line and 68 miles of 238 kV transmission line. CapX2020 is expected to be completed around 2015.[8][9]
