SMMPA Begins Taking Energy from 100 megawatt Stoneray Wind Project

A greater percentage of Redwood Falls’ electricity will come from a new wind farm in SW MN. (Image courtesy SMMPA.)

On January 1, the agency that provides Redwood Falls’ electricity began taking energy from the 100-megawatt Stoneray Wind Project. The project consists of 39 wind turbines located in Pipestone and Murray counties.

SMMPA, the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, provides electricity and related services to 18 municipally operated utilities, mostly in south-central and southeastern Minnesota, including Redwood Falls, Princeton, Owatonna, Rochester, Litchfield, New Prague, St. Peter, and Waseca.

The wind farm began commercial operation in December of 2018. The Stoneray Wind Project had been selling the energy to others until January 1, when SMMPA began taking delivery under the 20-year term of the agreement.

The Stoneray project will increase SMMPA’s wind generation portfolio to over 200 megawatts. With the 5-megawatt Lemond Solar Center and other biomass/biogas generation, SMMPA is positioned to meet the requirements of Minnesota’s renewable energy standard for the foreseeable future.