Local Voices: Q&A Session with Ed Wollner
Ed Wollner is a retired farmer living in Dickinson County. For 45 years, Wollner grew corn and beans while raising beef cattle, hogs and a family with his wife, Marjorie, in Terril, IA. Now living in Milford, Wollner is a signed landowner in the Red Rock footprint. He recently spoke with us about wind energy and the improvements that the Red Rock community wind project will bring to Emmet and Dickinson counties.
Why did you decide to sign a lease with Red Rock Wind Energy?
My wife, Marjorie, and I signed with Red Rock Wind Energy in early Fall of 2008, early on in the project’s lifespan. From the discussions I had with the field specialists it sounded impressive so my wife and I signed up as soon as we could.
What do you believe are the benefits of community wind and what improvements do you see the project bringing to your community?
Community wind is great because the whole community gets to take part in the project, not just the landowners with turbines on their property. We also have an ownership opportunity in the project that is a great long-term investment and acts like a second income. Red Rock Wind Energy is going to bring in large tax revenues to our county that could go towards a number of improvements in the area. I think one of the best benefits is that Red Rock will generate new jobs right in our towns and that’s something that the younger people around here could sure use.
How important do you see wind energy in the face of more traditional forms of energy?
I am all for wind energy and I’m very excited about all the possibilities that it can bring to rural communities across the country. Unlike coal and nuclear power, wind is clean and doesn’t pollute. But even more importantly, wind is free, and once you have your turbines built it doesn’t cost a dime to make them spin. I’m all for wind and I think it is a great improvement over older forms of energy.
-- Many thanks to Ed for contributing! If you would like to share why you got involved with Red Rock Wind Energy in the next issue of Feedback from the Footprint, please contact Al Blum at 712-380-7272.
