This session explores the debt side of community wind energy. Featured topics include: the debt market today – participants and terms; what makes a good wind project from a lender’s perspective; new opportunities in bonding; and how lenders view risk for wind energy projects.

Moderator: Ed Woolsey, Green Prairie Energy

Speakers/Panelists:

"Property Taxation of Wind Generation Assets," North American Windpower, May 2006, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 31-34.

2007 was a landmark year for energy policy in Minnesota. The legislature passed the strongest renewable energy standard in the nation with overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle. This law makes Minnesota a leader in clean energy policy and creates a great opportunity for our state to reap the rewards of the booming renewable energy industry. With the passage of The Next Generation Energy Act of 2007, the legislature made sure much of the economic benefits of the increased renewable energy would stay in our rural communities.

This publication was released by Farmer's Legal Action Group in August 2007. According to the FLAG website, "This book serves as a guide to the many legal issues faced by farmers and rural landowners who seek to develop wind energy projects.

Watch Windustry's web-based presentation on Wind Energy Easements from May 9th, 2007.
(Presented in conjunction with Colorado State University Extension Service and Iowa State University Extension Service.)

Business Models: Farmer and Small Developer Panel

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Hundreds of megawatts of community wind projects have already been installed throughout the country, but increased policy support for locally-owned projects is needed so that rural America can continue to benefit from this growing industry.