LINCOLN, NE  Mortenson Construction, a leading renewable energy contractor, begins construction on the Grande Prairie Wind Project located in Holt County, Nebraska. Owned by BHE Renewables, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, the 400-megawatt project will be the largest wind energy project in the state's history.

Mortenson's scope of work will include the erection of 200 Vestas V110 turbines and the engineering, procurement and construction of foundations, access roads, underground collection systems, two substations, and a transmission line. The construction of roads and foundations is currently underway and erection of turbines will begin in May of 2016.

"We're delighted to partner with BHE Renewables and contribute to the state's steadily growing wind resources while bringing substantial economic benefit to the region," said Tim Maag, Vice President and General Manager of Mortenson Construction's Wind Energy Group.  "In addition to approximately 350 jobs that will be created throughout the construction period, hundreds of thousands of dollars will be infused into the area's hotels, restaurants and living facilities due to construction traveler spending alone."

The Grande Prairie Wind Project is Mortenson Construction's first wind project to be built in Nebraska and the company's third largest to date. Mortenson's largest wind farm ever built is the 501.4-megawatt Highland Wind project currently under construction in Iowa, owned by MidAmerican Energy, also a Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiary.

Once the project is complete in December of 2016 it will generate clean renewable energy for the equivalent of approximately 120,000 Nebraska homes.