Chad Horton, land-acquisition manager for Renewable Energy Systems, and Haley Jo Mauldin, consultant for RES, sat down with The Gazette Wednesday morning to talk about a proposed wind-energy project near Reading.
Horton and Mauldin said they were in town to meet with landowners. About 100 people showed up for a landowners’ information meeting Tuesday evening to learn more about the possibility of having wind turbines on their properties near Reading. This is one of many meetings with local landowners. Individual and group meetings are held
RES has expressed interest in developing east Lyon County, south and west of Reading, as a potential site for a wind farm to be spread across 25,000 acres. About 2,000 to 3,000 acres of the total would be in Osage County.
RES was established in the United States in 1997 and was founded in 1982. The company has wind projects on four continents.
No definite plans have been set as no leases have been signed yet. Horton expressed optimism about the possibility of a wind project in Lyon County.
“I feel comfortable,” Horton said.
Lyon County was chosen as a possible site because of its wind and availability of transmission lines, Horton said.
“We first look for wind speeds over eight meters per second,” he said, adding that adequate transmission lines are a must as well. Portions of the proposed development are northeast of Westar Energy’s Lang Substation.
Nearby transmission lines have to be able to handle the electricity generated by the turbines, Horton said.
“This site passed the initial tests,” he said.
Horton said RES is in the education stage of the process, which includes giving landowners information and answering their questions.
“Some landowners are concerned,” he said. “There hasn’t been any vocal party or group saying ‘not in my backyard.’”
Ultimately it’s up to the landowners, Horton said.
“(Our) task is to provide information,” he said. “At the end of the day we’re not here to push a wind project on you.”
The next step for landowners is signing leases, Horton said. There are two different kinds of leases — a wind energy ground lease and an operational term lease. The first lease is held while the project is under development. After completion, the second lease takes effect and is in place for 30 to 50 years. During the first lease, landowners are paid by acre and in the latter they are also paid royalties based on the amount of electricity generated.
Once the land is developed, the land can return to whatever the landowner wants to use it for, Horton said.
“The landowner can utilize the property in any manner,” he said, adding that the use cannot block the wind available to the turbines.
Before a wind farm can be constructed, several things must be done, Horton said, including doing environmental studies and obtaining permits. Considerations include impact on wildlife, nearby homes and other buildings.
All aspects of the wind project is handled by RES from development to construction and beyond.
“We handle all aspects in-house,” Horton said. “It’s very important for us to keep our landowners happy. We got there by taking lots of time with individual landowners. It didn’t just happen overnight.
“That’s the uniqueness of RES. We do everything within these four walls.”
Once the project has progressed far enough, public meetings will be held to discuss it.
wirewatt (Ken Bazil) says...
I don't think you will see a great bonanza from the proposed wind farm. The internet is great as you can google "wind speed map" and see what the wind speeds are for the state, and United States. I don't have a problem if the company comes in to build the system does it without the rate payers picking up the ticket. If it can stand on its own and produce and sell power to the electric utilities then its a good deal. However if we have to raise electric rates to pay for something that won't pay for itself, then it is not going to replace fixed power. If wind power is such a good deal why is Westar putting in the gas generators northeast of Emporia? Just a few things to think about and use to justify the project.
January 29, 2009 at 4:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ConcernedVoter (anonymous) says...
My understanding is that both wind farm construction and the daily maintenance activities are very expensive. I am all for renewable energy, but the article didn't mention whether RES has any financing lined up yet for this project, or how the project will be paid for. It is good to hear that the other tremendous windfarm construction expense - transmission lines - are already in place nearby and can be used.
January 29, 2009 at 5:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
Concerned,
Daily maintenance on wind farms is actually VERY cheap compared to a gas generation plant. Construction, however, is expensive. From my understanding, it is approximately $2 Million for a 2 MW turbine (which is what I am assuming they will be installing). The transmission lines can cost upwards of $1 Million/mile, so that is why this place is seductive to wind farm planners. Wind Farms ARE, however, property-tax exempt, so I am curious to see what the PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) agreement will be... Either way, it will generate income for the county.
January 30, 2009 at 3:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )