community wind for Meeker and Kandiyohi counties
From the Litchfield Independent Review
By Kristin Holtz
December 4, 2008
It all started with a passing comment. Nothing more than daily dinner conversation.
But now, Lake Country Wind Energy LLC has its sights set on being one of the largest wind energy facilities in the state, and its home is right here in central Minnesota.
Lake Country Wind is a partnership between local investors and National Wind, a Midwest wind developer, to build up to 300 megawatts of wind energy facilities in Meeker and Kandiyohi counties.
About three dozen people attended an investment meeting Nov. 20 at the Eagles Club in Litchfield to learn more about the project.
“Renewable energy is something people are really interested in and should be in our area,” said Wes Nelson, a Lake Country Wind board member.
Lake Country Wind was formed in May and has continued to make progress toward its goal of establishing 150 two-megawatt turbines, enough energy to power potentially 73,000 homes.
Lake Country Wind’s best progress has been finding landowners open to the windmills. Board member Steve Bergo said the company has already secured 7,500 acres with an additional 7,500 at various stages of the lease process. Lake Country Wind will need a total of 30,000 acres for the full scale project, Bergo said.
With landowners on board, Lake Country Wind is inviting community members to invest in the project. During the next four months, the company would like to secure $2 million to cover development costs. The cost of the turbines — each is estimated at $5 million — will be financed by large financial institutions, according to National Wind.
The project is open to any Minnesota resident, though the goal, Bergo said, is to secure as many local investors as possible. Investors do not need to be landowners. Minimum investment is $10,000, Bergo said.
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