By LINDA McGURK
Indiana Correspondent

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — Just a couple of years ago, Indiana seemed an unlikely candidate for large-scale commercial wind farm projects. Now wind developments are springing up faster here than in any other state, and Montgomery and Fountain counties could be next in line to receive a piece of the renewable energy pie.

Two companies are planning developments in Montgomery County; Tiskilwa, Ill.-based Stewardship Energy LLC on the east side, and Chicago-based Invenergy on the west. Bill Henderson, executive director of Montgomery County Economic Development, said the projects likely will comprise about 200 wind towers ranging from 1.5-2 megawatts per unit.

“These projects could overlap not only Fountain County, but Tippecanoe and Clinton counties as well,” Henderson said.

As of right now, only Stewardship Energy has filed for the necessary permits to establish a wind farm, but if both projects come to fruition, Henderson believes they will create 400 construction jobs and 10-20 permanent jobs once the construction is completed. They will also make up an important new revenue source for the county.

“We haven’t figured up exactly what the number is, but the revenue from the leases and the property taxes is quite significant,” Henderson said. “I think it will be a nice addition to the tax base. Most communities right now could use a little shot in the arm.”

In order to regulate the new developments, Montgomery County passed a new wind ordinance a couple of months ago. A wind ordinance generally regulates setbacks and the use of public roads during construction, provides guidelines for installation and decommissioning of the towers and outlines taxes or payments to the county.

“We’d obviously like to see a win-win situation for the landowners, for the community as a whole and for the developer. We try to make sure the wind ordinance is fair to everybody,” Henderson said. “The landowners seem happy to get the business and everybody seems to be excited about wind energy.”

Part of the Invenergy development will spill over into Fountain County, and several landowners in the northern part of that county have already signed leases with the company. That has prompted the Fountain County Planning Commission to work on a wind ordinance.

“Adopting a wind ordinance will be a gateway to allow this development to happen,” said Amanda Smith, Fountain County extension director and member of the planning commission. She added this also makes it easier to attract other potential developers.

“Wind developers don’t like coming into a county without an ordinance because they don’t know what the rules are.”
Benton County was the first Indiana county to adopt a wind ordinance, and about a dozen others have since followed suit. Countless others, mainly in the northern half of the state, are either considering a wind ordinance or are in the process of developing one. The Fountain County Planning Commission is modeling its ordinance on several existing plans in nearby counties, according to Smith.

“We’re trying to keep our ordinance consistent with the surrounding counties.

Some of these wind farms cross county lines, so it’s much easier for the wind developer if we have the same rules as Montgomery County,” she noted.

Only the northern part of Fountain County has enough wind capacity for commercial wind turbines to make economic sense, and in comparison with the large-scale developments in Benton County, the potential for wind energy in Fountain County is probably relatively modest. But Smith said wind energy can still bring economic development to a county that isn’t likely to attract other large-scale businesses.

“I think that wind development is one of the bigger things that can happen to this county,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for landowners to make a little extra profit, and it’s environmentally sound technology.”

Pearce McKinney, who runs a sheep-breeding operation near Wingate, was one of several landowners in the area approached by Invenergy about two years ago. After mulling the lease and discussing the proposal with his family and some fellow farmers, McKinney decided to sign.

“I don’t think (the wind towers) will be disruptive to the beauty and ambiance of the farm.

 I’ve always been open-minded when it comes to anything that has to do with conservation, and I’m for anything that produces green energy,” he explained of his decision.

“I see it as progress and I think most young people today view it as progress. We’re fighting wars internationally because of our obsession with oil, so if we can do this little thing to make us more self-sufficient and environmentally friendly, I think we should.”