Why did you decide to join NECO Wind?
We had a lot of people trying to lease ground for wind projects. Our local NRCS [Natural Resources Conservation Service] office had a meeting about how you shouldn’t jump in and join right up with just anyone, how there are fly-by-night operations—maybe you’re not getting as good of a rate as you should. I decided to look a bit more.
Then at one point my brother was out visiting and we drove by a met tower [a meteorological tower used to measure wind speed and other data] and we got to talking. I told him about how there were all sorts of people showing up to lease ground and he said, “Well, gosh, why don’t we get them out to do something instead of waiting for someone to come to us?” We found National Wind Assessments on the internet and asked them if we could buy a met tower. They quizzed us on what we wanted to do and they pointed out that maybe we should contact National Wind. And the partnership was born. It just seemed like such a better deal—the community involvement, I think that’s the biggest thing. The chance to invest in the company—instead of just selling the wind rights—was my biggest motivating factor.
So I talked a few friends into investing a little money and joining the advisory board. The next thing you know, a year later we have 81,000 acres leased. It’s amazing progress.
What is your role as Chair of the advisory board?
I chair the monthly meeting of the advisory board, which is a group of people who have invested money or have land or property signed with NECO. Once a month Scott [Hafner], the developer, comes and gives us updates. We help him when we can with stuff like area land owners or different programs that we’re aware of. We have at various times the ability to help them a little because we’re out here where the project is going to be.
I just call the meeting to order and we get the rundown. We had an advisory board meeting last night and Scott said we were set pretty good, National Wind’s making a lot of progress; things are looking good at the home company. These are exciting times.
What are some of the benefits the project brings to the community?
I think the biggest benefit is back to local ownership and pride in the project and having a voice through this advisory board. Most of the guys on the board—between them we know almost all of the landowners, so we can keep up with the current news and it’s just nice to know what’s going on a little bit. Everybody’s really impressed, they say, “Gosh, this thing has gone so well.” It’s really been a sweet project.
Bruce Rosenbach is a farmer in northeastern Colorado.
Thanks Bruce! If you would like to be featured in a future landowner interview, please call one of our field specialists at 970-373-3177 to let them know.
