The landscape north of Rugby is changing practically every day as

crews from Wanzek Construction erect the giant white wind towers making up Iberdrola’s 71-tower wind farm.

As of last week, about 25 of the 2.1-megawatt towers were standing. They rise some 270 feet in the air and stand well over 300 feet when measured from the tip of the blade at its apex to the ground. They can be seen for miles around.

The first tower was erected last month and the process includes positioning the tower onto the concrete foundation by a large crane. Then the three blades are connected to the nacelle, or nose of the tower containing the gear box. A crane and wires then lift and turn the nacelle and blades to be fastened at the top of the tower.

In addition to the towers, work has started on the transmission lines which will tie the electricity generated from the wind farm into Otter Tail Power Company’s substation just east of Rugby.

Jan Johnson, communications director with Iberdrola, said the project is on track to be completed later this year and go on line by late December or early January. The wind farm will have an average capacity to provide electricity to 45,000 homes.