Community Appeal

Canada's total installed wind energy capacity more than doubled in 2006 to reach almost 1,500 MW while at the same time US installed wind energy capacity increased 27% to 11,600 MW. With such strong industry growth, interest in community wind is growing among farmers and communities across North America.

Community sized wind projects can generate both revenue and electricity while keeping energy dollars local without polluting the air and water. As a developer, Wasatch Wind likes to consider beneficial opportunities with locally interested community groups and citizens. We work closely with land owner partners, citizens, community leaders, and regional utilities during the site and wind farm development and long term operation.

For further information: http://www.windustry.org/community/default.htm#Projects

Community Testimonies

“It seems only natural for rural utilities to do everything they can to advance both farm-based renewable energy development and rural economic development in a cost-effective way. In my opinion, wind energy is the next great chapter in the rural electrification story.”
Aaron Jones, Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association; Olympia, WA

“Wind energy adds diversity to our generation fleet and provides a hedge against fossil fuel price increases. In addition, the development of renewable energy resources is widely supported by the public and our customers.”
Rick Walker, director, Renewable Energy Business Development, AEP Energy Services, Inc., Dallas, TX

“Our customers wanted this wind program and it was our job to deliver it. It has turned out to be a huge source of community pride. The turbines are a visible landmark showing the Moorhead Community’s commitment to a better world for our children.”
Christopher Reed, Moorhead Public Service, Moorhead, Minnesota

“You don’t have to be a utility commissioner to see that we need better regulatory policies to achieve the diversity, economic development, and environmental benefits of wind power.”
Bob Anderson, Montana Public Service Commission, Helena, Montana

“Wind is a homegrown energy that we can harvest right along side our corn or soybeans or other crops. We can use the energy in our local communities or we can export it to other markets. We need to look carefully at wind energy as a source of economic growth for our region”
David Benson, Farmer and County Commissioner, Nobles County, Minnesota

Community Economic Benefits

Specific Examples:

Iowa
• 240 MW of wind in Iowa
• $640,000/yr. in lease payments to farmers ($2,000/turbine/yr.)
• $2 million/yr. in property taxes
• $5.5 mil/yr. in O&M income
• 40 long-term O&M jobs
• 200 short-term construction jobs
• Doesn’t include multiplier effect

Minnesota
• 107 MW wind project in MN
• $500,000/yr. in lease payments to farmers
• $611,000 in property taxes in 2000= 13% of total county taxes
• 31 long-term local jobs and $909,000 in income from O&M (includes multiplier effect)