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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowConstruction crews are hustling to beat a Dec. 31 deadline to get 125 turbines in operation for a wind farm that is eventually planned to reach into four central Indiana counties.
Project developer E-on Climate & Renewables needs to have the turbines up and running before current federal tax credits for wind energy expire.
Crews are working overnight to finish building 69 turbines in eastern Tipton County and 56 in northern Madison County. Wildcat Wind Farm Project manager Andy Melka told the Kokomo Tribune that crews are only working at night because the winds are calmer.
He said 75 of the electricity-generating turbines have been completed. Nearly 200 more turbines are planned in Howard and Grant counties in later phases.
The 125-turbine first phase is supposed to cost an estimated $400 million. Each turbine, which are placed on 300-foot towers, is expected to generate enough electrical power for 350 homes.
The tax credit is worth 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour produced or a payment of 30 percent of the project's eligible costs.
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