Large wind farms have sprung up all over the landscape like this one in western Iowa. Photo courtesy of John Hay
Utility Scale Wind
Utility scale wind refers to wind turbines usually built in groups of 2 or more up to wind farms with over 200. Turbines are large scale. Many utility scale turbines today range from 1-3 megawatts in size.
Landowner Issues:
Understanding Wind Energy Leases
Wind development in the upper midwest and how it impacts landowers including lease and easements. Also comments on landowner associaitons Presented Nov 18th 2009 by the High Plains Extension Energy Team.
Dr. Shannon Farrel - Oklahoma State University
Sarah Hamlin - Montana State University
View presentation
Wind Power: What Landowners Need to Know
Held in Valentine and Norfolk, Nebraska in October of 2008, these programs focused on land owners who are interested in wind development or who have been approached by wind development companies. There were two main presenters:
Frank Falen, Budd Falen Law Offices, Cheyenne, Wyoming
1. Wind Power Easement Price Discovery video audio (mp3 file)
2. Wind Power Easement Liability Issues video audio (mp3 file)
John Richards, PE, Nebraska Public Power District
NPPD Wind Presentation*
NPPD
It's Your Power Nebraska's public power utility recognizes the growing political concerns regarding climate change and presents in this site the measures they are taking to address the challenge, and what you can do to help.
Wind Energy Production - Legal Issues and Concerns for Land Owners
Erin Herbold, Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, Iowa State University
CALT Wind Legal Issues Newsletter (*pdf document, Acrobat Reader required)
Landowner Associations
Wind developers have been approaching landowners throughout the midwest to sign up land for potential wind farm projects. Land lease/easement contracts are complicated and should be looked at by a qualified attorney representing the landowner. In some cases landowners have joined to share the legal costs and negotiate together instead of individually.
Saline County Wind Association: This recently formed association in Southeast Nebraska formed in order to negotiate a wind contract in their area.
Landowner Wind Energy Associations: Cornhusker Economics Newsletter January 2001.
Landowner Wind Energy Associations in the West: Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
Wind Farms Could Bring Wyoming Ranchers Windfall: NPR news story Oct 2009
Financing Wind Projects
Wind Energy Development: Key Financial Considerations
Friday, February 27, 2009
The topic of this Webcast is Financing Wind Energy Development as Wall Street Melts Down. Larry Leistritz and Cole Gustafson, both from North Dakota State University, joined with Carol Goodman, Executive Director for the Cavalier County Job Development Authority in Langdon, North Dakota, to discuss the economic impacts of developing wind energy.
View the presentation
Future of Wind Developments
20% Wind Energy by 2030
A US Department of Energy report detailing what it might take to get to 20% wind power by the year 2030. Today Nebraska has 153 MW of installed wind. Another study stated Nebraskas share to get the U.S. to the 20% goal would be approxomately 7800 MW an increase of 5000%.
Read the 20% Wind Energy by 2030 study - Entire study*
Executive Summary *
*(pdf document, Acrobat Reader required)
Other Resources:
Landowner resources
Landowner Guidelines for Evaluating Wind Energy Produciton Contracts - Michigan State Uinversity 2008 - (*pdf)
Negotiating Wind Energy Property Agreement - Farmers' Legal Action Group, Inc - (*pdf)
Wind Energy Production: Legal Issues Related Liability Concerns for Landowners in Iowa and Across the Nation - Iowa State University Center for Ag Law and Taxation - Includes sample contract
Montana State University Wnd Energy Resources Page - Large database of wind resources sorted by topic and year
Nebraska Energy Office - Wind Resources
Wind Industry Resources
National Renewable Energy Labaratory
American Wind Energy Association
