By Gitte Laasby, Post-Tribune staff writer
Porter County is well on the way to getting its first wind farm.
Kansas-based TradeWind Energy plans to invest between $300 million and $450 million in erecting up to 200 windmills between Kouts in Porter County and LaCrosse in LaPorte County.
The company has been measuring wind conditions for the past eight months and has leased 10,000 acres of land for its LaCrosse Farms project. It partners with the investment company Enel North America Inc., which has the money to invest.
"I'd say there's probably a better than 80 percent chance LaCrosse Farms could be built in the next three to six years," said Duane Enger, project manager for TradeWind Energy.
The company has been gathering meteorological data from two towers in southwest LaCrosse for the past eight months to determine the height and type of turbines best suited for the location. So far, indications are the project will be viable, but about three years of data are needed to make a final determination. Enger said federal and state legislation to require more renewable energy would provide another incentive to go ahead.
"Best-case scenario, we're looking at a minimum of three to four years to initiate construction," he said. "It generally takes four to six years to do all the research, receive all the permits, do all the environmental studies."
Several other Indiana counties are windier than Porter County, especially Benton County, where BP has developed its Fowler Ridge Wind Farm. But Enger said higher wind turbines can make up for part of that. In addition, Porter County has two advantages: Major transmission lines are already in place to transport the electricity to demanding consumers, and the community has been receptive to a housing wind farm.
Enger said the company has met "great support" from landowners so far and been able to lease 10,000 acres for 100 turbines from farmers in the area -- about half of what it needs. TradeWind hopes to generate 200 megawatts of electricity from up to 200 turbines, enough to power 60,000 homes.
TradeWind pays farmers about $9,000 to $10,000 annually per turbine in addition to a share of the revenue generated by the mills. For a farmer who has 120 acres to lease for two wind turbines, that would mean $720,000 over the 40-year lease. The numbers quickly got the attention of farmers, who called Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper.
"Some of the farmers are pretty excited about it because these windmills generate a substantial lease. And the farmer can still farm 98 percent of the ground," said Harper, D-center. "We need to do some things in this country to be more energy efficient and get away from our traditional methods of coal and gas, so I think there's going to be a lot of public support for this concept."
Economic boost
Enger said the project would be an economic development engine that would also create additional tax income for the county.
"Two hundred or 250 turbines, that's the better part of two and a half million bucks into direct landowner payments in addition to the number of jobs we can possibly see. And the support services that come into towns like this. During the construction phase, we could easily see 100 to 150 full-time construction jobs. They'd need to stay in hotels, they'd need places to eat locally," he said.
Long term, the wind farm would support nine to 15 full-time jobs. The typical tax revenue for the taxing authority is around $6,500 per megawatt hour. While the taxing authority can decide the amount, the Porter County project would only be viable if the tax rate is competitive with other counties that have a potential for wind development.
Another factor is that Porter County has no ordinance to regulate wind towers.
Bob Thompson, executive director of the Porter County Plan Commission, said a committee has drafted a large wind energy conversion ordinance and is working with a wind expert from Purdue University to flesh out details on the height of towers, the setback required, noise from the turbines and decommissioning of towers. Thompson said he isn't sure when the wind ordinance will be on the agenda, but hopes it will happen this summer.
"I know they're anxious to see one," Thompson said. "I can't guarantee I'll have it in June (but) if not, maybe July."
The ordinance would get a public hearing before the Plan Commission and then before the County Commissioners before it could become a reality.
Southern district commissioner Carole Knoblock was out of town, but Harper said both she and he are supportive of an ordinance allowing the wind farm.
"I think we need to get it through," Harper said. "I think there's too many people who are awaiting the outcome."