This webinar was an introduction to important community wind issues, presented by a handful of leading experts in the field. It drew over 120 participants from 16 states, across a wide spectrum including nonprofit, business & industry, economic development, county & city officials, legislative staff, finance, education, planning & zoning, electric utility individuals, as well as a number of interested community members. Please scroll down to learn more about the Webinar and its presenters, and to watch and listen to the presentations.
Recent legislation promoting renewable energy in several Midwest states is projected to result in over 20,000 megawatts of wind generators built over the next several decades. This represents over 30 billion dollars of investment in rural communities. Numerous studies have shown the increased benefits to local communities of local ownership of wind generation. Further, with so much wind development in the pipeline, local support for wind development of any kind will be necessary. Rural communities with a financial stake in that development are more likely to support it. Thus many people have an interest in promoting community wind.
Topics
Many questions will need to be addressed if community wind is to have a significant share of the development rush:
What business models work and provide maximum benefits to rural communities?
What policies are most effective at promoting community wind?
What does it take for community wind developers, especially smaller projects, to navigate the complex transmission interconnection process?
Presentations & Audio
Each presenter spoke with a Powerpoint presentation, followed by clarifying question & answer. To view and listen to each presentation, click on the "play" button, and then open the presentation to follow along with the presenter. If you have any difficulties, please email Dan Thiede (dthiede@mnproject.org).
Community wind overview, Carl Nelson (Green Institute) Download PowerPoint Presentation, 4.36mb pdf and/or listen to audio of the presentation by clicking the "play" arrow below:
An overview of some of the key issues facing community wind developers, with an emphasis on the Minnesota situation and policies that have supported community wind development.
Financing community wind, Dan Yarano (Fredrikson & Byron) Download PowerPoint Presentation, 4.36mb pdf and/or listen to audio of the presentation by clicking the "play" arrow below:
The “Minnesota Flip” has been a common financing mechanism for community wind projects, whereby equity partners own the majority of the project for the 10-year life of the tax credits, after which time ownership flips to the local investor. Find out new financing mechanisms that are being developed. What are the risks and benefits of Minnesota Flip or other financing mechanisms?
Navigating the transmission interconnection process, Tom Wind (Wind Utility Consulting) Download PowerPoint Presentation, 4.35mb pdf and/or listen to audio of the presentation by clicking the "play" arrow below:
Access to the transmission grid is crucial to the success of any wind project, including community wind projects. Currently, the capacity of the grid to support further wind development in some areas is reaching its limits. What are the implications for community wind developers?
About the Presenters
Carl Nelson is the Associate Director of Green Institute, a non-profit focusing on practical solutions to environmental issues. There he has worked on a number of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, including a recent biomass fuels assessment for a local recycled paper mill. He is currently contracting with Minnesota Project as a Community Wind Specialist. He is also the project manager for a small, 6 MW C-BED (community-based energy development) project in western Minnesota, and serves on the C-BED Advisory Task Force to the Minnesota Legislature.
Dan Yarano is a co-chair of Fredrikson & Byron’s Energy Practice Group. Dan leverages his corporate and finance expertise to advise wind energy providers, investors and developers in connection with the acquisition, development and financing of wind projects. Dan has assisted rural farmers, as well as large and small national energy companies in the development and financing of wind energy projects. His projects account for more than 600 MW of wind energy capacity, and wind projects that are currently in process will account for an additional 1,200 MW. Dan’s projects are located in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and New Mexico. Dan also represents leading wind energy supply and service companies.
Tom Wind is the owner of Wind Utility Consulting, PC. Mr. Wind specializes in small wind generation projects and in the integration of large wind turbines into the utility grid system. He was employed at Iowa Southern Utilities for 15 years before becoming a self-employed consulting electrical engineer. He is a member of the American Wind Energy Association, the Utility Wind Integration Group, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Technical Advisory Group for wind generation for the U.S. National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Committee, the MidContinent Area Power Pool Transmission Design Review Subcommittee, and is a Iowa Power Fund Board member. He has given over a hundred technical presentations at meetings and seminars over his career.
Recent legislation promoting renewable energy in several Midwest states is projected to result in over 20,000 megawatts of wind generators built over the next several decades. This represents over 30 billion dollars of investment in rural communities. Numerous studies have shown the increased benefits to local communities of local ownership of wind generation. Further, with so much wind development in the pipeline, local support for wind development of any kind will be necessary. Rural communities with a financial stake in that development are more likely to support it. Thus many people have an interest in promoting community wind.
