What's the first energy-independent U.S. town?

Following the opening of a new four-turbine wind farm last week, Rock Port in northwest Missouri has become the first U.S. town to get all its electricity from wind power.

The $90-million Loess Hills Wind Farm, built on bluffs west of the town, generates five megawatts each day, more than enough for the settlement of 1,300 people.

In fact, the farm generates enough electricity to power another similar-sized town. This has led Missouri Joint Municipal Utilities to buy excess power from the site. The farm is eventually expected to generate 16 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year.

The farm was built in a partnership between St. Louis-based Wind Capital Group and John Deere, which has been helping fund rural wind projects all over America. Speaking at the grand opening last Friday, project manager, Eric Chamberlain said, “Rock Port is making the burning of fossil fuels today’s alternative energy supply.”

It’ll be really interesting to see whether the success of this community-supported initiative will inspire similar projects elsewhere in the country.

Via Columbia Daily Tribune