community wind for Meeker and Kandiyohi counties
From the Litchfield Independent Review View a PDF version of the article August 19th, 2010 By Brent Schacherer, Editor
Harnessing the power of the wind takes time, but the payoff is coming.
Officials from Lake Country Wind Energy, the locally owned company that plans to create a wind farm in Meeker and Kandiyohi counties, told interested residents during a meeting Aug. 16 at the Atwater Community Center that their project remains on track. But it is likely to be at least another year before the first wind turbines begin to churn out electricity for the nation’s power grid.
“It’s good to see the community come out and be excited about it,” said Jeremy Duehr, an environmental scientist at Malcolm Pirnie and a consultant on the project. “It’s good to see that support.”
The board of directors of Lake Country Wind Energy scheduled the meeting to update investors and area landowners, as well as other interested citizens, on the project.
From the West Central Tribune August 14th, 2010
ATWATER — The permitting process to install 20 wind turbines in Meeker and Kandiyohi counties is under way, with a community meeting set for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Atwater Community Center.
The meeting will include information about the site permit for the first phase of Lake Country Wind Energy’s 340-megawatt development that includes installation of 20 turbines that will generate a total of 41 megawatts of renewable energy.
The turbines will be located in Swede Grove and Acton townships in west central Meeker County and in Gennessee, Harrison and Kandiyohi townships in Kandiyohi County.
Once the permitting is completed, the turbines could be constructed late this year or early next year.
The site permit application was submitted Aug. 4 to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.
The meeting Monday will include a project update to answer questions about the permitting process for the initial 20 turbines.
From the West Central Tribune
Written by Gretchen Schlosser
February, 19, 2010
WILLMAR — Lake Country Wind Energy LLC has almost reached its goal of signing easements on the 30,000 acres of land needed for the community-owned wind energy project in Kandiyohi and Meeker counties.
Lake Country and National Wind, a Minneapolis-based consultant for 13 similar wind energy projects across the country, announced Wednesday that almost 25,000 acres have been signed onto the project. Landowners of more than 13,000 acres signed the necessary agreements with the project in 2009.
Jan Donahue, field specialist on the project, noted that she is continuing to work with landowners, especially in Gennessee Township in eastern Kandiyohi County.
The project footprint includes land in Green Lake, Harrison, Kandiyohi and Gennessee townships in Kandiyohi County and Swede Grove and Anton townships in Meeker County. The area is along U.S. Highway 12 between Willmar and Grove City.
Renewable Energy World
January 20, 2010
Hamburg, Germany
REpower Systems AG has received a contract from National Wind LLC to supply 20 MM92 wind turbines. The MM92 type turbines have a rated power of 2.05 MW (megawatts) and a hub height of 100 meters. The turbines will be used in the first phase of the Lake Country Wind Energy project in central Minnesota. All phases of the project will total 340 MW.
These are the first wind turbines that the U.S. subsidiary of REpower will deliver to Minnesota.
"We strongly value our new relationship with REpower and look forward to building upon it," said Jack Levi, co-chair of National Wind. "Securing wind turbines is a significant project milestone for Lake Country Wind Energy. Not only is REpower's turbine technology an ideal fit for the project's wind regime, it also advances Lake Country's first phase toward a late 2010 construction. It is exciting to bring Meeker and Kandiyohi Counties' first utility-scale community-owned wind project closer to reality."
From the West Central Tribune
By Anne Polta
February 20, 2009
WILLMAR — A local wind energy group has received a resolution of support from the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners, a move that will allow it to go forward as a community-based energy development project.
The County Board adopted the resolution Tuesday on behalf of Lake Country Wind Energy.
The project already has 64 landowners in eastern Kandiyohi County and western Meeker County who have committed 16,500 acres for wind towers, said Steve Bergo, chairman of the Lake Country Wind Energy advisory board and a rural Grove City farmer.
Community investors and supporters also have pledged nearly $1.4 million worth of capital for developing the project, Bergo told the County Board on Tuesday.
“The response has been tremendous,” he said.
A formal resolution of support by the County Board is one of the steps necessary for the project to be designated a community-based energy development project as outlined by the Minnesota Legislature.
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.
From the Agri News
By Carol Stender
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
ATWATER, Minn. -- A group of Atwater-area landowners have formed Lake Country Wind energy and are teaming up with National Wind to establish a community-based wind energy project.
National Wind is a community-based wind energy development company based in the Twin Cites. It is developing more than 15 projects that will produce more than 4,000 megawatts of renewable energy.
from Renewable Energy World
Sunday, June 30, 2008
Central and southeastern Minnesota landowners now have an opportunity to participate in two large-scale, community-owned wind projects. National Wind LLC announced its partnership with local landowners to form two Minnesota wind development companies, Root River Energy LLC and Lake Country Wind Energy LLC. Over the next five years the two projects plan to develop close to 500 megawatts (MW) of wind energy.
From the St. Cloud Times
By Charles Pulliam
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Land owners in Meeker and Kandiyohi counties have partnered with a Minneapolis-based wind company to establish a wind turbine project expected to produce up to 250 megawatts of wind energy for the area.
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The project, known as Lake Country Wind Energy, is expected to generate enough electricity to power almost 75,000 homes.
From North American Wind Power
By NAW Staff
Friday, June 27, 2008
Minneapolis-based National Wind LLC has announced a partnership with local landowners to form two Minnesota wind development companies - Root River Energy LLC, in Fillmore County, and Lake Country Wind Energy LLC in Meeker and Kandiyohi counties. Over the next five years, the developers plan to build up to 500 MW of wind energy.