Small Town News

Wind project gets high praise, approval likely

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The Border Winds Energy Project is expected to get approval from the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) sometime after the first of the year, according to George Youngerman, Rolla Job Development Authority Director.

The PSC held a public hearing last week in Rolla regarding the application by Sequoia Energy US Inc. to construct a 150 megawatt system consisting of up to 66 wind turbine generators. The project's estimated cost is $360 million.

The hearing was held so the PSC can be assured that the application is compatible with all state regulations, has the proper permits and that it will have minimal adverse effects to residents and wildlife in the area.

More than 70 people gathered in the Clarence Eller Room at Rolla City Hall for the hearing.

"This is a great turnout," said Kevin Cramer, a member of the PSC. "We want to have responsible development and it's important you all give us your thoughts on this matter. We want to improve our communities yet preserve our culture and resources."

Construction is estimated to begin in June 2010 with 18 months needed to complete the project. Full operation is slated for mid-to late-2011. The project will impact 120 acres of land and a study determined there will be no significant long-term effect on the environment.

Last week's hearing did, however, give light to a couple of hurdles Sequoia must clear prior to the start of the project.

Terry Ellsworth of N.D. Game and Fish testified that the department did not have adequate time to review Sequoia's new plan, which changed the lo cation of all the turbines to Rolette County.

Ellsworth said it's not the goal of Game and Fish to "shut this project down" but did want the company to be aware of the laws and provide assistance to minimize any damage to wildlife.

John Morrison, Sequoia's lawyer, said' that the company had already scheduled a field review with Game and Fish the day after the hearing and the company will continue to coordinate with the department to make sure the project remains in compliance into the future.

Also testifying before the commission was Rolla Mayor Scott Mitchell, who stressed the importance of the project to the entire area.

"We are in a low-income county and this project definitely has the potential to benefit this community and the whole county," Mitchell said. "It'll help create jobs and provide some tax relief and the business owners will see some benefits as well."

Rolette County Commissioner Bob Leonard expressed his satisfaction about Sequoia to the PSC.

"Sequoia has always been up front with us, whether it's about the benefits to this area or the obstacles they've had," Leonard said. "The economic impact of this (wind farm) in Rolette County should be huge."

Val McCloud, Rolette County Auditor, said she's been working with the project for five years and sees it as very beneficial to the county.

"It's going to benefit everyone - the landowners, county businesses, it'll help create jobs and it'll increase taxable valuation," McCloud testified. "There are estimates of $1.5 million in increased taxable valuation, a 10 percent increase, which could mean property tax relief."

Alex Albert of N.D. Job Service in Rolla emphasized the potential for decreasing Rolette County's unemployment rate during his testimony in favor of Sequoia's application.

"The state's unemployment rate is 3.2 percent but in Rolette County it's 9.7 percent," Albert said. "The number of jobs this project will create will have a positive impact on this county. We have a surplus of construction workers and road crews, many of whom have skills that Sequoia needs during the construction process."

It is projected that 120 to 200 workers will be employed during the construction process with 10 to 15 employees needed to maintain the turbines after.full operation.

Todd Mears, Rolla City Council member and owner of The Golden Rule, expressed a firm optimism for the project. "Small communities face a lot of obstacles in regards to growth and the economy," he said. "It's been a long process getting to this point but Sequoia has been great to work with. It's hard to stifle our enthusiasm in regard to this project because it's gong to be such a great opportunity for this county."

One community in the area, Langdon, has already been through a wind energy project and people there can attest its impact.

Carol Goodman, executive director of the Cavalier County Job Development Authority, watched a 133-turbine wind energy project blow into the area and bring with it a total economic impact of $225 million.

"Everything was busy, everything was full," Goodman said. She added that tax revenue from the project totaled $908,187 with more than half of that going to the Langdon Area School District.

"It was unbelievable. It gave the county commission extra revenue to use when budgets were being squeezed tighter every year'," Goodman said.

In addition, Langdon saw the creation of 12 to 15 jobs in the community. "It allowed people to move here and move to a better paying job within the community," Goodman said.

While much of the testimony in front of the PSC delved into the project's potential impact on the local economy, there are also direct financial benefits to landowners involved in helping to harness the Border Winds.

According to a landowner involved, several factors come into play which spell out the financial advantages for those owning property within the project's area. For each turbine located on his property, a landowner will receive approximately $7,000 per year. Other fees will be paid to property owners for cables which will be entrenched and for housing a substation or maintenance building.

In addition, according to the landowner, $10 per acre will be paid to each person who has property with the project's area if he is registered with Sequoia.

Property owners involved in the project were asked to sign a 30-year lease-which will be updated every five years, according to the landowner.

The next step is for Sequoia to accumulate a few remaining permits as well as finalizing some studies and reports, including a look to make sure shadows from the moving propellers don't flicker over houses which could be bothersome to residents.

After this, the company will have a working meeting with the PSC to approve the application.

"It's pretty exciting that you all get to be a part of this new source of energy andeconomic development," Cramer said. "It's people like you who are making a difference in your communities."

For Youngerman, it's been a long road from the first wind measurement in August 2003 to last week's PSC hearing. He testified in support of the project calling it "a great economic opportunity for the whole county" in terms of jobs created, the additional boost in business for existing merchants, added tax base and direct benefit to the landowners.

"The Rolla Job Development Authority's board of directors had the foresight to accumulate the wind data and have supported me in my efforts to help bring this wind farm to Rolette County," Youngerman said. "The board has always supported my involvement because they knew how much it could benefit the county. Every town will feel the impact."

"The Rolla Job Development Authority's board of directors had the foresight to accumulate the wind data and have supported me in my efforts to help bring this wind farm to Rolette County. The board has always supported my involvement because they knew how much it could benefit the county. Every town will feel the impact."

George Youngerman, Rolla JDA executive director



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© 2010 Turtle Mountain Star Rolla, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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