Montana has allowed the use of a 3,080-acre school-trust land for the installation of up to 15 wind turbines as part of a 300-megawatt (MW) wind farm, according to Great Falls Tribune Online on May 2. The wind farm is estimated to cost $200 million for its 58-MW first phase, which will be constructed five miles northeast of the unincorporated community of Martinsdale. The project is Montana’s second wind farm on a school-trust land.

Seven to 15 turbines on the state land, and additional turbines on an adjoining private land, will comprise the first phase. Much of the wind farm will occupy about 15,558 acres of private land owned by the Martinsdale Hutterite Colony.

Montana could receive $36,750 to $78,750 in annual payments for allowing the installations. According to Department of Natural Resources and Conservation area manager, Clive Rooney, through the Great Falls Tribune, the payments would depend on how many of the 15 turbines would be installed. The amount would also represent 3% of the project’s estimated gross revenue, Rooney added.

Revenue from the school-trust land is earmarked for public schools. Property tax base for the concerned Wheatland and Meagher counties will also be increased by the project, Rooney said.

Horizon Wind Energy LLC, based in Houston, Texas, will develop the wind farm. Horizon Wind has developed over 2,800 MW of projects and operates more than 2,000 MW of wind farms. It will begin construction by 2010, said project manager Joy Potter to Great Falls Tribune.


-  Jen Balboa

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Sources:

¹ http://m.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090502/NEWS01/905020301/1002
² http://www.horizonwind.com/company/about.aspx