Wind power in Minnesota
Electricity from wind in one U.S. state
Minnesota electricity production by type
Fenton wind farm at sunrise
As of 2023, the installed capacity for wind power in Minnesota was more than 4500 megawatts (MW).[ 1] Wind power generated 25 percent of Minnesota’s electricity in 2023, ranking among the top ten states in the United States for wind energy as a share of total electricity generation.[ 2]
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), the Odell Wind Farm (200 MW) and the Bent Tree Wind Farm (201 MW).[ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6]
[ 7]
Transmission Grid Improvements
Minnesota Electricity Generation Sources in 2016
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 La Crosse, 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] in
Minnesota has a renewable portfolio standard (400 Mega volt amperes) requiring 25% of electricity come from renewable sources by 2025.[ 10]
Statistics
Minnesota wind power
Wind power in Minnesota
Year
Capacity (MW)[ 11]
[ 12] [ 13]
[ 14] [ 15]
Generation (GWh)[ 16] [ 17] [ 18]
Generation (% of total)
1999
273.4
2000
291.2
725
1.4%
2001
319.8
884
1.8%
2002
337.7
905
1.7%
2003
558.3
979
1.8%
2004
600.1
814
1.6%
2005
745.4
1,582
3%
2006
895.9
2,055
3.9%
2007
1,299.8
2,638
4.8%
2008
1,752.8
4,354
8%
2009
1,810
5,053
9.6%
2010
2,205.4
4,791
8.9%
2011
2,718
6,725
12.7%
2012
2,987
8,176
14.6%
2013
2,987
8,258
16.1%
2014
3,035
9,690
17%
2015
3,235
9,781
17.2%
2016
3,526
9,934
17.7%
2017
3,699
11,136
2018
3,779
10,712
2019
3,843
11,040
19%
2020
4,299
11,832
21.6%
2021
4,591
12,942
2022
14,275
Minnesota Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh)
Year
Total
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2001
884
86
73
67
91
63
64
56
49
55
91
97
92
2002
905
98
103
58
95
83
77
34
58
74
61
76
88
2003
979
79
92
103
86
78
54
64
47
84
82
110
100
2004
814
61
64
81
68
82
53
38
50
67
74
84
92
2005
1,582
110
112
133
146
164
123
108
78
138
126
199
145
2006
2,055
199
175
194
199
202
116
124
98
133
193
183
239
2007
2,638
284
199
276
247
268
167
128
100
230
236
267
236
2008
4,354
385
313
326
427
397
251
223
246
349
397
453
587
2009
5,053
504
509
556
560
493
299
269
317
258
418
411
459
2010
4,791
440
274
449
482
440
294
268
329
344
432
505
534
2011
6,725
465
691
543
642
712
479
290
272
359
732
807
733
2012
8,176
869
634
748
819
798
623
407
433
533
854
796
662
2013
8,258
903
691
737
800
784
555
508
372
606
694
930
678
2014
9,690
1,099
910
961
1,004
763
620
621
295
641
857
1,075
844
2015
9,781
950
867
948
982
903
504
446
593
671
906
1,103
908
2016
9,934
845
912
870
1,100
670
647
510
423
802
920
958
1,277
2017
11,136
953
1,125
1,137
1,021
937
738
501
424
792
1,163
1,154
1,191
2018
10,712
1,155
987
1,067
957
755
884
596
610
885
945
936
935
2019
10,965
1,013
837
1,063
883
961
704
623
566
980
1,258
1,102
975
2020
11,832
910
1,175
1,168
1,028
903
973
659
871
938
958
1,132
1,117
2021
12,942
1,016
947
1,302
1,253
1,071
890
708
860
1,020
1,080
1,346
1,449
2022
14,275
1,439
1,349
1,399
1,393
1,140
953
805
772
933
1,227
1,451
1,414
2023
4,014
1,205
1,473
1,336
See also
References
^ Energy & Utilities. "Wind Energy Data & Info" . Commerce Department . State of Minnesota. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024 .
^ U.S. Energy Information Administration (19 September 2024). "Minnesota State Profile and Energy Estimates" . EIA.gov . Archived from the original on 10 November 2024.
^ Province dedicates Canada's largest solar PV project
^ enXco and Xcel Energy Announce Operation of Nobles Wind Project
^ Bent Tree Wind Farm up and running
^ Odell Wind Farm
^ "21% of Minnesota's electricity came from renewables in 2015" (PDF) . Minnesota Department of Commerce, State Energy Office. 2016-04-02.
^ CapX2020 powered up
^ CapX2020 FAQ
^ "Geronimo Sells Black Oak Getty Wind Farm To Sempra U.S. Gas & Power" . North American Windpower . Zankin Publications, Inc. Retrieved 9 September 2015 .
^ Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (2015-06-30). "Installed Wind Capacity By State" . United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2015-09-07 .
^ "Installed Wind Capacity" . Minnesota Department of Commerce. 2017-05-18.
^ WINDExchange U.S. Installed and Potential Wind Power Capacity and Generation
^ "MRETS Generators" . Midwest Energy Tracking System. Retrieved 2017-05-18 .
^ "Market Report 2021" . American Clean Power Association. May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022 .
^ "1990-2015, Net Generation by State by Type of Producer by Energy Source (EIA-906, EIA-920, and EIA-923)" . U.S. Energy Information Administration. October 2016. Retrieved 2017-05-18 .
^ Wind Energy in Minnesota
^ a b "U.S. EIA, Electricity Data Browser" . U.S. Department of Energy. February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021 .
External links