Renewable Energy in the Midwest
The Midwest ISO has primarily three sources of renewable energy: biomass, hydro, and wind. The unique characteristics of these renewable energy sources present a new set of challenges. We are actively engaged resolving these challenges to enable our customers to meet their state and national Renewable Portfolio Standards and policies.
Midwest ISO has a large amount of high potential wind sites within its footprint, and as a result, we are heavily involved in efforts to safely, reliably, and economically integrate this wind power into our footprint. Our team works to enable the integration of wind resources in a manner that will ensure reliability, an efficient and effective market, and a level playing field for all market participants.
The map below shows wind site locations by the typical power that a wind farm can produce compared to its maximum output, also known as the wind farm’s capacity factor. A higher (more red) capacity factor indicates higher levels of wind.
As more states have enacted Renewable Portfolio Standards, significant increases in wind-based generation construction are expected. Visit our Generator Interconnection Request page for more information.
Installed wind generation has also increased in the Midwest ISO footprint. More than 5,000 MW of wind are projected to be in service by the end of 2009. To see a graph of near real-time amounts of wind generation output in the Midwest ISO footprint, please visit the Total Wind Generation page.
Registered nameplate wind capacity in the Midwest ISO region has grown steadily over the last three years.
Source: Registered wind farms in the Midwest ISO Commercial Model. In-service status subject to unit availability. 
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