NECO Wind is the only large-scale wind development company in Sedgwick, Phillips, and Logan Counties that allows for community-based landowner participation and ownership. Most other utility-scale wind projects in the state do not follow a community-based development approach. So what’s the difference between NECO’s community wind and more traditional development models?
Non-community based wind developers only offer landowners lease payments for wind turbines placed on their properties. However, turbine placement is dependent on where the best wind sites are located; you can’t pick and choose.
The Community Wind Distinction
NECO Wind’s approach to wind development is different. NECO Wind LLC is a company formed by a group of Sedgwick, Phillips, and Logan County landowners in partnership with an experienced community wind developer, National Wind. The investors and landowners from the community have majority ownership interest in the company and in all of the wind projects developed by NECO Wind.
“One big advantage of community wind is that you don’t need a wind turbine sited directly on your property to participate,” said Bruce Rosenbach, Chair of the Board of Advisors and founding member of NECO Wind. “Community members have several ways they can get involved in NECO Wind, including as owner-investors.”
NECO Wind promotes landowner cooperation and is built around local support. With a community wind project, you will be working directly with your neighbors to put the project together. Important project information is openly communicated to all involved. Utility companies generally like to work with large community wind projects because they often feel that the strong local support means projects are more likely to get done.
Generally, large-scale wind projects take about five years from inception to commercial operation. With the warm reception to community wind – both from area landowners and potential power purchasers – we expect the first phase of the NECO Wind’s developments to be operational in three to five years.
