The passage of the Next Generation Energy Act of 2007 by the Minnesota State Legislature and Tim Pawlenty requires a study of the potential for dispersed renewable generation statewide. The study consists of two parts, Phase I and Phase II, which focus on installing a total of 1200MW of new dispersed renewable energy projects with a minimal impact on the transmission grid.

On June 17, Xcel Energy (through Northern States Power) released their 2008 request for proposal (RFP) for Community Based Energy Development (C-BED) projects.

Here's what it says on the Xcel Energy website: "As a part of Xcel Energy’s Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) program, Xcel Energy is soliciting proposals for Community Based Wind Projects. In 2005, the Minnesota Legislature directed that each utility establish a tariff for the purchase of C-BED wind energy. The purpose of the tariff is to encourage and promote broader local participation in wind energy development.

Beginning June 17, 2008, Xcel Energy will be accepting proposals for new Minnesota wind generation resources to be in commercial operation by Dec. 31, 2009. Xcel Energy will seek approvals for any resulting Renewable Energy Purchase Agreements from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The submission deadline is July 11, 2008."

Click here to go to the Xcel Energy website and download a complete copy of the 2008 RFP.

Services include design, testing &
analysis, business support, project development, construction
services, operations & maintenance support.

Chinook Wind is located in Washington but serves clients nationwide.

Chinook Wind Website

The Thedford Community Development Corporation invites the public to an informational meeting on wind energy at Stub’s Restaurant in Thedford June 26, starting at 7 p.m.

Representatives from Nebraska Farmers Union will be on hand to discuss Nebraska's Community-Based Energy Development and explain the benefits of locally owned energy development.

This June/July 2007 article in Mother Earth News covers the basics of community wind and talks about the challenges to community wind in the U.S.

Click here to read the article on the Mother Earth News website.

As the first generations of wind turbines reach the end of their original deployment, there is growing interest in the used turbine market.

Just as you would be cautious and need to do due diligence when purchasing a used car, caution is of the utmost importance in considering used turbines.

This April 2008 report from the New Rules Project discusses how simple changes to the federal production tax credit (PTC) and SEC registration process for cooperatives could significantly reduce barriers to community ownership of wind.

Download the report from the New Rules website here: http://www.newrules.org/de/ptc-wind-ownership.pdf

Click on the following links to download resources and presentations from the March 17, 2008 Meet-Up in Detroit:

This guide from the National Association of Counties was released in November, 2006. According to the NACO website, "this publication is designed to provide county commissioners, planners,
and other local county government officials with a practical overview
of information required to successfully implement commercial wind
energy projects in their county."

Click here to download the guide from the NACO website.

According to the AWEA website, "The Wind Energy Siting Handbook was developed by the AWEA Siting Committee to inform wind energy developers and other interested parties about environmental siting issues relevant to land-based commercial-scale wind energy project development in the United States.