Lake Country Wind Energy is planned to have three phases: a 40 megawatt first phase and 150 megawatt second and third phases. Each phase will bring jobs and tax revenue to Meeker and Kandiyohi counties and payments to local landowners. Here are some of the projected benefits for only the first phase of the project.
Economic development
The first 40 megawatt phase is estimated to bring the following benefits:
- $4 million over the life of the project (20 years) to the landowners and participants signed into the project.
- $3 million over the life of the project in tax revenues to Kandiyohi and Meeker counties
and the hosting townships.
- $1 million of construction activity to local subcontractors and suppliers.
- A workforce of approximately 100 people for 6-12 months of construction activity.
These workers will use hotels, restaurants, gas stations, hardware stores, and other retail
services in the area.
- Two permanent operations and maintenance jobs that will keep the wind turbines in
peak operating condition over the life of the project.
Clean energy
- Enough clean energy to power 10,000 homes
- Creates no water or air pollution
- A similar-sized coal plant would create 130,000 TONS of CO2 and take a 7-mile long train filled with coal for a coal to fuel it
- Uses almost no water--a comparable-sized coal or nuclear plant uses up to 240,000 gallons per day
Preserves the land
- Helps keep land agricultural--like it has been for 100 years
- Wind lease payments help farmers stay in business
- The land in the Lake Country footprint is agriculturally zoned; wind development will help keep it that way
