Pioneer Prairie I Wind Farm, which is located in northeastern Iowa in Howard and Mitchell Counties, has an installed capacity of 198 MW - enough to power approximately 54,000 average Iowa homes each year. Construction of the wind farm’s 120 Vestas V82 1.65 MW turbines began in spring 2008 and the wind farm achieved commercial operation in December 2008. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) purchases 115 MW of energy generated at Pioneer Prairie I. Beginning in 2012, TVA will purchase the remaining 83 MW. Currently, the remaining electricity generated by the wind farm is sold into the regional wholesale market. The associated energy credits are used by businesses and organizations to comply with state renewable energy mandates or to voluntarily reduce the environmental impact of their operations.