Wind Project Announced to Local Community
The development of wind energy in Northwest Iowa is expanding again with the formation of the community-owned wind farm development company, Red Rock Wind Energy. Red Rock Wind Energy was formed and capitalized in August 2008 by local investors and its project manager, National Wind. The project company’s plans for developing 300 megawatts of wind energy were publicly announced to the local community during a landowner meeting on Monday, September 29th, 2008 at the Elks Club in Estherville. Nearly 100 landowners attended.
At the meeting, members of National Wind’s development team, consisting of co-chair, Jack Levi and senior developer, Ben Kerl, along with field specialists, Lindsey Pelstring, Kristin Ross and Red Rock Wind Energy’s Board members, introduced the company’s plans for development.
The basics of the project’s development were covered, including a project summary and an overview of the community wind business model.
Because Red Rock Wind Energy is a complimentary project to the North Star Wind Farms, National Wind has extensive information on Red Rock Wind Energy’s project site and the local climate for site control, investment and permitting. The project area (where the wind farm will be built) covers approximately 90 square miles land in Emmet and Dickinson Counties, near the towns of Terril, Wallingford, and Estherville.
The initial feasibility study for the project, which included preliminary wind, transmission, and environmental analyses, was completed in June of 2008. Results were indicative of a positive area for commercial wind farm development. With the installation of a meteorological tower in October 2008, the on-going next step in project development includes our field team working on meeting with local landowners within our project’s footprint to present our wind option and lease agreement.
A large portion of land is needed for this project’s development. Currently, over one third of the acres of land needed for the project are leased. Red Rock Wind Energy’s field team, consisting of Al Blum, Bob Schacherer, Lindsey Pelstring and Kristin Ross, will continue to work with landowners throughout 2009.
In 2008, Red Rock Wind Energy also introduced the project to utility companies interested in purchasing electricity from wind energy developments. Red Rock Wind Energy will be in frequent contact with these utilities throughout 2009, working out the best method of incorporating the project into their agenda for purchasing renewable energy.
Besides site control and utility efforts, additional transmission and wind studies will continue throughout 2009. It’s a busy road ahead for Red Rock Wind Energy, but the future continues to look bright.
