Wind farm sign-up?

Anybody here have any experience with signing up to be part of a wind farm? We have been offered a contract but don't know what to expect.

Jimsohio-

Here the school district allowed one or two to be built on school grounds with the promise of paying enough to pay for referendum. It's been a couple years and no money. Another thing is that when you sign it doesn't mean you get a windmill necessarily. You might get transmission lines and that pays a lot less and I think it's a one time payment for an easement. Take into account the roads they build out to each tower and take into account your future land value. Remember, one bankruptcy can change any contract you are given. A stroke of a pen can change things at the government subsidy level. Without heavy subsidies these things are not viable. Think about the coming austerity measures and what are the chances that the windmills will be part of the cuts. In my area very few have signed up but not they want to run the transmission lines right through our farm and right through Dad's building site. There will only be a one time payment made. The fight is on. The lines will have towers that are taller than any other thing in the area. Now we are battling heavily subsidized power lines and also they want to run a light rail line along with a freight train line through our farm. (eye sore for Rochester so throw it out to the country like everything else they don't want) They only claim light rail so they can get subsidies from feds but I know the light rail will actually go through Rochester. They just don't want the freight trains. I'm gonna get me a loaded goat!

Edited by Lonn - 12 Nov 2010 at 5:42am

Something else to think about is the loss of QUIET.

Timing your shot between the blade movement might be a problem. Then whats a few holes in a blade going to do.

Love my contract so far. Six years payments, and far as I know, they have never set foot on my land. The plans call for 18 generators. Wish something would happen before I die. I have stood at base of working generator,and in my opinion, less noise than 4x4 tractor working one half mile away. Some people can complain about small things. Now a nuck plant in my back yard, wait a minute!

Anywhere they drive those cranes they'll ruin your tile lines. Make sure they come back to repair those lines. Problem here is they aren't in too big of a hurry to repair tile lines. Also when they run a power line under ground they cut through tile lines without repairing them. takes years to recover from the compaction if the ground ever does. Don't forget that. we told them to take a hike. I don't need their subsidized stinking money.

When asked how many I was getting my reply was as many as they can stuff onto 134 acres, max of 3. At $8500 per and by the foot lease on roads and power lines I'll quit farming and watch my windmills turn! That would be more money than I have ever netted farming!