2010
Lake Country Wind Energy Installs A 100 Meter Meteorological Tower in Kandiyohi County
Atwater, MN - August 12th, 2010.- Lake Country Wind Energy, LLC recently installed one of the tallest meteorological towers in Minnesota, a 100 meter (328 foot) lattice structure, within Gennessee Township, Kandiyohi County. The National Wind Assessments’ crew constructed the tower to further analyze the wind regime within Lake Country Wind Energy’s project area. This analysis along with data gathered from a 60 meter (197 feet) met tower located in Harrison Township, Kandiyohi County will help the project complete a 2 year wind study this September.
High Country Energy Elects A New Advisory Board Member
Kasson, MN - July 29th, 2010: High Country Energy, LLC has elected Michael Frost to the wind project’s local advisory board. Frost, a farmer and participant in High Country Energy, was elected to the board during the project’s recent annual member’s meeting. He represents community members within High Country’s northern footprint, located in Dodge County’s Concord, Milton, Wasioja and Mantorville townships and Olmsted County’s New Haven and Kalmar townships.
Windfrastructure Program Makes the Purchase of Renewable Energy Financially Neutral for Large Power Users
MINNEAPOLIS, - July 26th, 2010: National Wind announces today the launch of its patent-pending Windfrastructure Partner Program. Windfrastructure enables large power users to purchase renewable energy in a financially neutral manner.
High Country Energy Seeks New Advisory Board Candidates to Help Shape Local Wind Project
Kasson, MN, June 4th, 2010: High Country Energy, LLC is in search of new advisory board candidates to fill one open seat and up to three others which are up for re-election. Candidates will be chosen from amongst interested parties who currently are or may become project participants. The advisory board is a key component to the development approach of High Country Energy’s community-based wind project. Local board members work side by side with the project developer, National Wind, by providing local counsel on the issues that matter to the community.
Deutsche Bank Creates Financial Facility for National Wind, LLC
NEW YORK-MINNEAPOLIS, May 20th, 2010: Deutsche Bank, and National Wind, LLC are pleased to announce the successful closing of a senior secured financing facility for National Wind. It is also expected that Deutsche Bank will help finance National Wind’s growing wind project portfolio, consisting of 13 projects, representing over 4,000 megawatts in active development. Headquartered in Minneapolis, National Wind is the largest developer of utility scale community-based wind energy projects in the US.
Dakota Wind Energy Accepted Into Big Stone II Transmission Backfill
Eden, South Dakota, May 5th, 2010: Dakota Wind Energy, along with its managing member, National Wind, announces today the acceptance by the Midwest ISO (“MISO”) of its 300 megawatt (MW) interconnection request into the Big Stone II Transmission backfill study group. Regional electrical transmission operator, MISO, identified wind projects that can utilize, or “backfill,” the electrical capacity once reserved for the Big Stone II coal plant.
Buffalo Wind Energy Announces Development of Utility-Scale Community Wind Project near Amarillo, Texas
Randall County, Texas, April 29th, 2010: Managing member, National Wind of Minneapolis, MN, and KRS Energy of Centennial, Colorado, announce the launch of Buffalo Wind Energy, LLC, a utility-scale, community wind project located in west central Randall County (the “Buffalo Wind Project”). The Buffalo Wind Project plans to develop up to 300 megawatts of wind energy.
Goodhue Wind Project Is Issued a Draft Permit and Confirmed C-BED; Xcel Energy Purchase Agreement Approved
St. Paul, MN, April 20th, 2010: On April 15th, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) unanimously confirmed the Goodhue Wind Project as a Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) project, issued a draft site permit and accepted Xcel Energy’s request to approve the project’s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Most importantly the MPUC denied a request for contested case status from a group that opposes wind development in Goodhue County.
Lake Country Wind Energy Nears 25,000 Acres For Community Wind Project
Atwater, MN - February 17th, 2010.- Lake Country Wind Energy, LLC and National Wind announce that nearly 25,000 acres of land have been secured for the project. The acres leased in Meeker and Kandiyohi Counties represent over three-quarters of the land needed to develop the 340 megawatt (MW) community-owned wind farm. The project’s goal is to sign 30,000 acres.
$2.5 Million from Department of Energy Will Help Develop First Phase of NECO Wind
Julesburg, CO- February 17th, 2010.- NECO Wind announces that Phillips County, Colorado was recently awarded a $2.5 million Community Renewable Energy Grant by the U.S. Department of Energy to help finance its community-based wind energy development. The grant, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will help jumpstart development on the first 30 megawatt (MW) phase of the project located in Phillips County. The remainder of the project will be completed in separate phases totaling up to 650 MW across Colorado’s Phillips, Logan, and Sedgwick counties.