The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is adding more wind energy to its growing renewable energy portfolio. It has contracted with Horizon Wind Energy LLC in Iowa to supply 44 megawatts of wind energy per year by 2012. Horizon will supply TVA with electricity generated by 50 Vestas 1.65-megawatt turbines at Horizon’s Pioneer Prairie wind farm in Howard and Mitchell counties. The project is still subject to applicable environmental requirements and securing firm transmission arrangements.

“We’ve seen remarkable growth this year in our wind power resources for the future,” TVA Senior Vice President John Trawick said. “This continued expansion is the result of TVA’s renewed vision to be among the nation’s leading providers of clean, reliable, low-cost power.”

This is the second TVA-Horizon wind purchase agreement this year. This past February, TVA signed a purchase agreement for up to 115 megawatts of wind power from Horizon. This latest agreement marks approximately 1,600 megawatts of renewable wind power contracted for TVA’s generating system.

TVA’s current renewable energy portfolio includes more than 4,300 megawatts from hydro, wind, solar and methane sources. In addition, TVA’s generates 6,900 megawatts of power from its nuclear power plants.