A 115-foot windmill to generate electricity will be built this fall between Anoka High School and the Rum River.

The Anoka City Council recently voted 4-1 to give final approval for the 160-kilowatt refurbished turbine to be built on city land south of Bunker Lake Boulevard, said Carolyn Braun, city planning director.

Construction of the three-bladed structure is scheduled to begin this fall, she said.

The $300,000 white turbine will be provided by the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, which has bought used windmills from Palm Springs, Calif., for its 11 member cities, including Anoka.

The nonprofit agency sold $3.6 million in low-interest renewable-energy bonds for the turbines that will eventually be repaid by electricity consumers in the Anoka area and other member cities. They include Shakopee, Chaska, Buffalo and North St. Paul in the metro area.

Although the relatively small windmills will generate only about 1 percent of local power needs, they will help the agency meet a state law requiring most utilities by 2025 to provide 25 percent of their total electricity sales from renewable resources, such as wind or water power, said Dave Boyles, the agency's project manager.

"We believe it is important to provide renewable energy to the customers," Boyles said.

Wind energy providers say wind power will become competitive with traditional power plants as nuclear energy, coal and fossil fuel costs continue to rise.

The dissenting Anoka vote was cast by Council Member Mark Freeburg.

"I just don't think they are financially efficient," Freeburg said.

"Right now there are government mandates because some think there is global crisis because the weather is changing. We as taxpayers will have to pay for it. ... If private business did it and made money, I'd say go for it."

The council initially had considered erecting the turbine near Sunny Acres Park. But after local opposition, the city opted for the high school site, which has no nearby homes.

Anoka High Principal Mike Farley said he expects the turbine might be incorporated into science or math studies.

Jim Adams • 612-673-7658