Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy Construction

In 1995, Mortenson was one of the first major U.S. contractors to enter into the uncharted territory of renewable energy by constructing our first wind power facility in Adair, Iowa. Today, Mortenson is recognized not only as one of North America’s principal full-service wind power contractors, but as the leader in renewable energy construction. This leadership position has allowed us to leverage our wind power expertise to advance the fields of solar, hydro, next-generation biofuels and, most recently, transmission and distribution. Through experience, we have acquired a deep understanding of the complexities inherent to any renewable energy project. With this knowledge, we’re able to tailor our expertise to meet the unique challenges of your renewable energy project, and deliver a building experience that’s superior to any other. 

WIND
 
As a pioneer in renewable energy construction in general, and wind energy in particular, Mortenson has built a reputation for delivering complex projects on time and on budget in some of the most geographically challenging locations throughout the United States and Canada. Our commitment to cutting-edge technology and constant innovation combined with our vast experience has established us as a clear leader within the wind energy industry. With more than 100 wind projects totaling nearly 11,000 megawatts of clean, renewable energy under our belts, no other renewable energy contractor in the industry has done more to advance wind power in North America. We are poised to bring our unmatched experience and expertise to your next wind power project. 

SOLAR

Using our pioneering expertise in wind energy as a guide, Mortenson has quickly separated itself from other solar energy contractors with superior engineering (through licensed consultants), procurement and facility construction. Mortenson has built several systems using varying technology, including Concentrated Solar Thermal (Dish Engines), Photovoltaic (Crystalline Silicon and Thin-Film, both fixed and single-axis tracked) and Concentrated Photovoltaic systems. Our projects to date have ranged in size from relatively small ground-mounted distributed generation systems of 400 kW to larger, utility-tied systems of 30 MW. Whatever the size of your next utility-scale solar project may be, Mortenson’s Renewable Energy Groups is dedicated to exceeding your expectations through every phase of construction, so that you get the most out of your long-term investment. 

BIOFUELS

Back when most renewable energy contractors were busy working on “first generation” biofuels, which consisted mainly of corn-based ethanol production, Mortenson decided to look into the future by focusing instead on the burgeoning “next generation” of biofuels. Since becoming active in this rapidly growing marketplace, we have supported customers in their research and development efforts, including the design and build-out of their pilot and demonstration scale facilities. We anticipate increased interest in these bio-refineries, and are actively tracking several promising new technologies in preparation for what we believe will be a big resurgence in this exciting market. 

HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION

Since entering the renewable energy market in 1995, high voltage work has been a significant part of our business. Mortenson has constructed and energized more than 61 high voltage substations, 28 high voltage interconnect stations, and over 200 miles of transmission lines, all through 345kV. Given our extensive experience within this energy segment, in 2010 we further evolved our capabilities and expertise by becoming involved in large, high voltage transmission and substations – outside of the renewable market.
 

Whether you’re an owner or developer looking to build large, complex high-voltage transmission infrastructure, Mortenson is well resourced to meet your energy delivery needs.

NOBODY KNOWS WIND LIKE WE DO.TM

If you'd like more information, please visit our Renewable Energy Groups page, or if you’d like additional information on how we can meet your renewable energy needs, please contact:


Solar Energy Industry and Construction Trends

In a study conducted by Mortenson Construction, professionals at the Fall 2011 Solar Power International Conference share their views on the current state of the U.S. Solar Energy Industry and the outlook for the future.


list of Mortenson's renewable energy construction services



Catch the Wind

To reach out to a younger generation and introduce the idea of renewable energy, we wrote an illustrated children's book entitled Catch the Wind.

Winner of the prestigious Nautilus Book Award, Catch the Wind teaches children about wind energy, introduces them to careers in construction, and provides Mortenson teams with a unique opportunity to build relationships within the communities in which we work.


Wind Farm Construction


Cedar Creek Wind Farm

“The folks who built Cedar Creek have shown how a project like this can be done in the right way-working with landowners and local elected officials and building a major project with a superb safety record. They have set a high standard, and we’re pleased to have the Cedar Creek project in Colorado.”

William Ritter
Governor
State of Colorado


Red Hills Wind Project

" . . . I think Mortenson is superior at bringing solutions to problems!  You assembled the "A" team on site. They knew their jobs, performed well."

Kim Smith
Vice President Construction & Services
Acciona Energy North America


Goodnoe Wind Project Phase I

“I have had the opportunity to work with many contractors during my professional career, but I can honestly say that all of you certainly put Mortenson at the top of the list in terms of professionalism.  It is truly a pleasure to work with everyone.  I look forward to a long relationship.”

Patrick McAllister
Vice President of Technical Services
enXco, Inc.


Glacier Wind Project - Phases I & II

"The aspect of Mortenson's performance that I found to be most valuable was the quality of people you employ. Good solid engineering and support. We could not ask for much better."

Arthur Barry
Director of Construction
NaturEner