Despite a fall of between 20 and 30 feet, the man who lost his footing on a ladder inside a wind turbine on Friday apparently was not seriously injured. The man's name has not been released by the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department. ...the worker slipped off a ladder and, although tethered by a safety harness, the harness apparently failed, and the man fell.

MidAmerican Energy won a battle Thursday over who will reap more power and profits from Iowa's wind. The Iowa Utilities Board approved the Des Moines utility's request to build wind farms producing 1,001 megawatts of power. The board rejected arguments that such an expansion would give MidAmerican an advantage over rival wind producers in attracting investors and would slow further wind energy development in Iowa.

Wind energy production nationwide increased by 1,649 megawatts during the third quarter, but you'd never know it by looking at wind installation in Iowa and Minnesota, the largest wind energy states in the Midwest. Both states recorded no gain in installed wind energy, although they have a total of seven wind projects under construction as the fourth quarter began.

No wind farms have yet moved to Plymouth County, but the county zoning board doesn't want to be caught unaware. The board met last Monday to start hashing out requirements should anyone propose to build a wind turbine farm in the county. ...The zoning board also discussed banning wind farms in the Loess Hills, an option several board members supported.

Iowa regulators this month took up a proposal by MidAmerican Energy that would allow the utility to build 1,001 MW of wind generating capacity in the state through 2012, put the investment in rate base and recover the costs from ratepayers. In short, NextEra objects because MidAmerican is asking its regulators to okay its plan to have ratepayers pick up the tab for what otherwise would be a largely stockholder-backed venture.

A 60-year-old student succumbed Friday after losing conscousness during a wind turbine climb with his classmates at the Estherville campus of Iowa Lakes Community College Friday morning. The individual was in the middle of his assent when he became unconscious, according to those on the scene. ...The male student was transferred by ambulance to the hospital where he died.

Wind turbines will not be allowed in Clive for at least the next six months. The Clive City Council on Thursday approved an ordinance prohibiting the construction of wind energy systems from now until Feb. 1. The moratorium is intended to give city leaders time to work with other metro communities to create common standards for allowing wind turbines. The ordinance passed 4-0. Councilwoman Ronni Begleiter was absent.

The Sioux City man belongs to Operating Engineers Local 234, a union that represents heavy equipment operators in the state. The group thinks too many out-of-state workers are contracted to put up turbines at the Lost Lakes Wind Farm west of Milford. Horizon's office along Highway 71 in Milford has been the high-profile location for demonstrators. One placard said: "Shame on Horizon Wind Energy For Hiring Blattner Energy," referring to the Avon, Minn., firm selected to do construction work for Horizon at the wind farm site.

A MidAmerican Energy vice president said Monday that the utility would prefer to build its own wind turbine farms rather than buy renewable power from another source. ...Rival wind generator NextEra Energy of Florida, which has 800 megawatts of wind generation in Iowa, has objected to the MidAmerican proposal, saying it would be anticompetitive and that MidAmerican's real purpose is less to serve its customers than to sell excess electricity in the wholesale markets.

Gov. Chet Culver is defending his focus on Iowa's renewable energy industry, saying his effort has created "thousands of jobs" and leaving little doubt he'll make it the centerpiece of his campaign for a second term. The Democratic governor made the creation of a $100 million Iowa Power Fund the centerpiece of his 2006 campaign, and he dismissed a report by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency that found the fund has had limited success.

An executive of NextEra Energy said Wednesday the company would add up to 2,000 megawatts of wind-generated electricity in Iowa to the 800 megawatts it already generates. But NextEra Vice President Michael O'Sullivan said his company would need the same rate of return that MidAmerican Energy of Des Moines has requested from the Iowa Utilities Board for its proposed 1,001-megawatt project.

As a follow-up to last week's meeting with Maharishi University of Management officials, the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors discussed wind turbine installation and removal guidelines Monday. At this time, supervisor Steve Burgmeier said, "There are none." Supervisor Lee Dimmitt expressed interest in establishing guidelines.

The moratorium, expected to last three to six months, would give city officials time to craft an ordinance and work together with other cities to create a consistent ordinance to govern the use of wind turbines in the metro. Currently, Clive city officials know of only one resident, Kevin Babb, who plans to install a wind turbine.

Growing interest in wind power has prompted Des Moines-area leaders to consider a uniform ordinance to provide consistent regulation of small-scale wind energy turbines in residential areas. Rules currently vary among Iowa cities on whether residents can add wind turbines on their properties. Some cities have banned turbines, while others regulate their size. Others do not allow turbines on small lots, but do on larger parcels. Members of the Metro Advisory Council, a group of elected officials, recently decided to examine how best to handle wind power projects.

Because of growing trend, city wants to make ordinance more detailed; it will be voted on later this month. Johnston is the latest in a list of Des Moines area cities to consider regulations related to construction and use of wind turbines. ...Councilman Gerd Clabaugh is wary of allowing an increased presence of turbines in a community that is growing both residentially and commercially.

Three members approve, but two absent leaders still have to vote. Waukee became the latest Iowa city to address wind power on Monday, when its City Council voted on an ordinance that would allow wind turbines in only a few areas within city limits. ...The ordinance will require two more votes before it can take effect.

During the second reading and action of an amendment to the zoning ordinance concerning wind towers and turbines during the Clinton County Board of Supervisors' meeting, a county resident and businessmen voiced concerns and additional information concerning wind farms.

Waukee became the latest Iowa city to address wind power on Monday, when its City Council voted 3-0 to approve the first reading of an ordinance that would prohibit turbines from being erected on or around single-family homes.

A public hearing and first reading of amendments to the Clinton County Zoning Ordinance sparked discussion concerning reverse setback limits concerning wind farms Wednesday at the Clinton County Board of Supervisors meeting. Paul Ketelsen, planning and zoning administrator, presented an amendment to the zoning ordinance concerning wind harvesting towers.