It's Getting Windier in Dodge, Mower and Goodhue Counties

By Brett Boese
The Post-Bulletin, Austin MN

ST. PAUL — Two wind farms projects in southeast Minnesota took another step forward Thursday at the Capitol, much to the chagrin of their vocal opponents.

Despite protests from opponents, the 300-megawatt project in Dodge and Mower counties proposed by Pleasant Valley Wind and the 78-megawatt project planned in Goodhue County by AWA Goodhue Wind both received a Certificate of Need and a preliminary draft site permit from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

While the PUC did require that both wind companies allow for an expanded scope of public hearings moving forward based on intense public interest, it was — as both sides expected heading in — a victory for the wind farms as the state pursues its goal of using 25 percent renewable energy by 2025.

Read story

How communities can take control of their energy futures | Commentary | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ

from MPR NewsQ
by John Farrell
March 5, 2010

Energy self-reliant states have stronger economies. And new data on wind power potential reveals that five Midwestern states could match their current electricity use with domestic wind power.
But along with the good news, these states -- Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan -- should take note of the stakes.

"I live out on the Buffalo Ridge [in southwest Minnesota]...I look out my window and I see hundreds of wind turbines. When I look at those turbines I'm happy and I'm sad... Most of those turbines are owned by our friends, the foreign multinationals. Out of two counties in Minnesota we export about $80 million a year to France, Florida, Italy, Portugal, Spain. All of our energy future is going out the door when we could be turning that into something real for us." -- Minnesota community wind developer Dan Juhl.

How can these five states get "something real"? There are 32 states that have enough in-state renewable energy to be energy self-reliant. And successful models in these states illustrate how local ownership, energy efficiency and innovative local government financing can maximize the economic returns of this resource.

A single wind turbine creates $1 million in economic activity, according to the American Wind Energy Association. And that's just a generic, utility-scale turbine.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has shown that a locally owned wind turbine creates twice the jobs, and three to four times the economic impact...
Read full story:How communities can take control of their energy futures | Commentary | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ

Community Wind Forum in Mapleton

R9 Renewable Energy Task Force will be hosting a Community Wind Forum in Mapleton on Monday, February 8th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Token Barbeque. This Forum is open to any person interested in learning about creating a local community wind development project. The Forum highlights will include models of successful community wind projects and the legalities and economics of developing a community wind project.

Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a lite supper served. There is no cost to attend, but registration will confirm supper. Please RSVP to Sarah at arah@rndc.org or (507)389-8880.

R9 Renewable Energy Task Force is a partnership of small businesses, local units of government, educational institutions, non-profits and citizen leaders who have come together to focus on renewable energy development opportunities within the region.

Sponsored by Region Nine Development Commission, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation and Gustavus Adolphus College.

Green Dorms

A story in U.S. News and World Report about college dormitories going green features St.Olaf College:
http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2010/01/28/5-unique-ways-to-go-green-if-youre-living-in-a-dorm.html

Lawsuit May Delay Bent Tree Windfarm

A lawsuit over Wisconsin’s approval of a Minnesota wind farm threatens to delay the construction start and drive up the project cost.

“At this point, we anticipate construction will begin this spring, so we hope the case plays out in a timely manner,” said Steven Schultz, spokesman for Alliant Energy, the utility developing the estimated $500 million Bent Tree Wind Farm in Freeborn County, Minn. “But if it isn’t settled, we’ll have to take a closer look then. It would have the potential to delay construction.”

The Bent Tree Wind Farm is expected to generate 200 megawatts. Even though the project will be built in Minnesota, the PSC had to sign off on Bent Tree because Alliant plans to use the electricity for the utility’s Wisconsin territory.
Read full story: dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/01/27/bent-tree-wind-farm-construction-start-threatened-by-lawsuit

Stewartville dentist looks to tap the wind for office

STEWARTVILLE -- Dr. Bruce Trulson of Trulson Dental Clinic in Stewartville is considering adding a 10 kilowatt roof-mounted wind turbine to supplement his clinic's geothermal heating system.

Trulson recently received a $5,000 grant from Clean Energy Resource Teams of Southeast Minnesota to pilot the project, which would be the first of its kind in southeast Minnesota.
Stewartville dentist looks to tap the wind for office

Community Wind Forum in Kiester -rescheduled

Due to the weather, the Kiester Community Wind Forum has been rescheduled.
It will be held on Monday, February 1st from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

R9 Renewable Energy Task Force will be hosting a Community Wind Forum in Kiester at the Kiester Community Center. This Forum is open to any person interested in learning about creating a local community wind development project. The Forum highlights will include models of successful community wind projects and the legalities and economics of developing a community wind project.

Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a lite supper served. There is no cost to attend, but registration will confirm supper. Please RSVP to Sarah at sarah@rndc.org or (507)389-8880.

R9 Renewable Energy Task Force is a partnership of small businesses, local units of government, educational institutions, non-profits and citizen leaders who have come together to focus on renewable energy development opportunities within the region.
Sponsored by Region Nine Development Commission, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Kee Town and Country Centre and Gustavus Adolphus College.
There will be a similar meeting in Mapleton on February 8.

Wind war whips up | The Republican Eagle | Red Wing, Minnesota

Wind war whips up | The Republican Eagle | Red Wing, Minnesota
It's good for Goodhue County, good for Minnesota and good for the local
people." Gadient is one of about 215 participants in a wind farm project
being ...

Posted using ShareThis

Winona County Wind Turbine May Begin Construction this Spring

Winona County turbines net investor
By Sarah Elmquist, Winona Post, 01/03/2010

An unprecedented public and private partnership for a proposed $3.6 million wind turbine project in Winona County may have netted an investor, and all signs point to construction beginning in the spring at the Mount Vernon Township site.
If things go as planned with the project, Winona County will become one of the first municipalities in Minnesota to combine tax dollars with private investments through a public and private Limited Liability Corporation to develop wind energy.

Winona County received special legislative approval last year to form an LLC to partner with investors. The ownership model for the agreement is expected to follow what has been coined the “Minnesota Flip,” with the private investors owning 99 percent of the developments and profits for the first ten years, with the county to own 90 percent after. Projections show that the county could make a profit of about $1.5 million over the next 20 years with the project.

Read the complete story in Winona Post

Le Sueur Putting Wind Energy to the Test

By Brian Ojanpa
Mankato Free Press
November 11, 2009

LE SUEUR —
The city of Le Sueur is tilting at windmills, but unlike what that idiom stands for, it’s not intended to represent an unwinnable battle.

While the 120-foot wind turbine in the city’s industrial park will produce only a token amount of electricity, its presence symbolizes the quest for alternative power-generating modes of the future.

“We just wanted to make a statement that we’re behind this,” city electric utility director Greg Drent said of a cooperative venture to erect turbines in 11 Minnesota cities.

Le Sueur and other member cities of the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency are participating in what could be described as a show-and-tell public relations initiative on renewable energy.

The power cooperative purchased the refurbished windmills from Palm Springs, Calif., for $300,000 each. All are expected to be producing power by year’s end.

Drent said Le Sueur’s should be operational by Thanksgiving, and though it will only produce enough to power about 18 homes, it also will serve as a testing ground to gauge its practicality and cost-effectiveness.

Read entire story.

Juhl Wind, Inc. Completes New 20-Year Utility Contract for $46 Million Adams

WOODSTOCK, Minn., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Juhl Wind Inc. today announced the recent execution of a 20-year, 19.8 MW Power Purchase Agreement between Adams Wind Generations, LLC ("Adams") and Xcel Energy, the electric utility based in Minneapolis, MN.

The Adams Wind Generations, LLC project will be a community-owned and operated, wind-driven electrical energy generation facility with plans to utilize twelve large wind turbines at an estimated cost of approximately $46 million. The project is a similar project to Juhl's recently announced Danielson wind farm.

Read full story

Got Solar? You Are Wanted!

If you are powered by the sun or other alternative energy source, you are invited to be a Solar Tour Site this year. It is a great way to help educate more people on Renewable Energy Options. The qualifying RE systems are solar electric, solar hot water, passive or active solar hot air, ground-source heat, and/or wind energy system at your home or business.

The Tour is Saturday, October 3rd from 10am to 5pm. and the MN Renewable Energy Society can provide volunteers to help you at your site for the day. In thanks for being a site, the American Solar Energy Society and MN Renewable Energy Society will give you a one year membership which includes discounts for classes and a one year subscription to Home Power magazine.

If you're interested in more information please go to: http://www.mnrenewables.org/solar-tour or email laurac@mnrenewables.org

If you would like to enter your site please go to: http://www.mnrenewables.org/solar-tour and click on Submit a Site Application.

Living Off the Grid, Off the Well, & Off the Furnace

Christian Milaster has built a house that operates on just $100 a year and is off-the-grid, , off-the-well, and off-the-furnace, yet has all the comfortable amenenities most people wouldn't want to give up. Milaster calls the buildingand design of his clean energy home "Project Licht 'n Stein" (German for "light and stone")" He shared the details of Project Licht'n Stein at a Southeast CERTs meeting last spring.

Watch videotaped excerpts of Christian Milaster's presentation to SE CERTs:
Project Licht 'n Stein - Introduction

Project Licht 'n Stein - Off-the-Grid

Project Licht 'n Stein - Off-the-Well

Project Licht 'n Stein - Off-the-Furnace


Links:
Project Licht'n Stein
BeCause Group Consulting

Secretary of Energy Chu visits Rochester Wind Training Facility

By Heather J. Carlson
Post-Bulletin Online, Rochester MN, Tue, Aug 4, 2009

U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu got an up-close look Monday at what it takes to work on wind turbines. Chu watched during a visit in Rochester as workers used a system of harnesses, ropes and massive clips to practice rescuing a colleague.

Rochester's International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 343's Wind Training Facility helps train these workers before they are 280 feet in the air, working on a turbine.

The secretary's visit comes as IBEW Wind Training Facility -- the only one of its kind in the nation, officials say -- is in the process of applying for a $2.2 million grant to expand its wind safety training in partnership with Rochester Community and Technical College. The expansion would include training for solar panel and wind-turbine installation and maintenance.

Read the full story.

Wisconsin Utility Seeks Approval for Freeborn County Wind Farm

From 7/9/09 Post-Bulletin, Austin, MN by Sarah Doty

Wisconsin regulators are scheduled to vote today on Wisconsin Power & Light Co.'s plan to build a huge wind farm in Freeborn County, just north of Albert Lea.

The farm, which would be spread across 32,500 acres, would generate about 200 megawatts of electricity -- enough to power 50,000 homes.

Red the full story in the Post Bulletin

Mower County Settles with Wind Developer for Road Repairs

From 7/9/09 Post-Bulletin story by Tim Ruzek and Sarah Doty
GRAND MEADOW -- Mower County officials have reached a settlement with wind-farm developer enXco in which the California-based company will provide $125,000 to repair township roads damaged while constructing more than 100 turbines near Grand Meadow.
Read the full story in Post Bulletin

Wind Energy Forum

Thursday, July 9,
5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Wanamingo Community Center, 401 Main St., Wanamingo, MN


Forum highlights, focusing on utility scale wind energy projects:

• Community wind economics- by Eric Lantz, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

• Business models and finance

• Lands leases and other legal concerns

• Siting and permitting

• Environmental and health considerations

• Wind energy case studies

Panelists include Charlie Daum, Geronimo Wind; Mark Rathbun, Great River Energy; Pat Louwagie, Hoffman & Brobst; John Schladweiler, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR); Carl Herbrandson, Minnesota Dept. of Health; Chuck Burdick and Tiff Thompson, National Wind; and Ron Peterson, Westwood Professional Services.

Everyone is invited at no charge.
A light meal will be served at no charge.

For more information:
Rich Huelskamp
651-301-3271
richh@smifoundation.org

Energy Seminars at Rochester Market Square

Rochester Market Square is a group of independent established businesses that have come together to bring the building, home remodeling, and interior design customer the convenience of one stop shopping with a rich visual experience, sponsoring a series of seminars:

Power is Everything
Kohler Backup Generators & Dupont Kevlar Storm Rooms
Space Limited Please RSVP to 507-285-5453
Attend the Seminar and Receive Additional 10 % Off a System Saturday, June 20, 10am
MN GreenStar 101

Your Tool Kit for Green Home Building & Remodeling
Space limited Please RSVP to 507-289-3622 Thursday, June 25, 6pm

Wind Energy Systems for Home, Farm or Business
Space Limited Please RSVP to 507-424-3884
Attend the Seminar and Receive Additional 10% Off a System Friday, June 26, 6pm

enXco Closes Financing On Wapsipinicon Wind Project

by NAW Staff on Monday 01 June 2009

Escondido, Calif.-based enXco, an EDF Energies Nouvelles company, has closed on the project financing for the Wapsipinicon Wind Energy Project. Lenders to the project are Nord/LB, CIC Credit Industriel et Commercial, Landesbank Hessen-Thuringen (Helaba) and CoBank. Nord/LB is administrative agent for the banks, which each have equal shares in term loan and letter of credit facilities."We are very proud to have another renewable energy project financed with Nord/LB, which also served as administrative agent for our Shiloh II project earlier this year," says Jim Peters, vice president of project finance for enXco. "Each of the lenders involved with the Wapsipinicon project have worked with enXco previously, and we continue to benefit from the strong relationships."

Construction of the 100.5 MW wind farm, which consists of 67 1.5 MW GE wind turbines, commenced in April 2008, with commissioning achieved in December 2008. Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency is purchasing power under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

The Wapsipinicon Wind Project, located in Mower County, Minn., will be operated and maintained by enXco Service Corp.SOURCE: enXco

Small Wind Turbine Installation Workshop

Maple Grove, MN • April 15-17, 2009
Great River Energy Headquarters


Due to increasing interest in renewable energy and residential-sized wind turbines, this three-day workshop is being offered to provide an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of small wind project development. The timeliness of this workshop complements the growing demand and interest in renewable energy.

With the passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 came a small wind investment tax credit to help consumers purchase small wind for home, farm and business use. Owners of small wind systems with 100 kilowatts (kW) of capacity and less can receive a credit for 30% of the total installed cost of the system. The credit will be available for equipment installed through December 31, 2016.

This three-day course will lead participants through all the necessary background information required to site and install a small wind turbine (up to 40 kW in capacity). The course will cover in detail all the steps for a successful project including timelines, initial planning stages, siting considerations, wind resource assessments and energy production estimates, tower considerations, zoning requirements, interconnection, insurance, used equipment, permitting, equipment assembly, decommissioning, plus much more.


For more information, or to Register, go to:
http://www.mnrenewables.org/events/classes/register2009-04-15.php