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Second wind farm possible in Wichita Co.
Published 7/4/2009 in Local News : Business
By SHAJIA AHMAD
Wichita County officials who have accepted an offer from an out-of-state renewable energy developer hope plans in the works for a second wind farm in the county will further bolster economic development.
Wichita County commissioners agreed in May to accept an offer from the Wind Capital Group, based in St. Louis, Mo., to develop wind energy with the same conditions as the Central Plains Wind Farm Project: In lieu of county taxes, the outside renewable energy developer would pay the county $2,500 per megawatt built, potentially generating nearly $247,000 in annual revenue if the 100-megawatt wind farm is constructed.
Sharla Krenzel, Wichita County's economic developer, said the Wind Capital Group has been interested in the site near Selkirk for more than three years. The group is continuously collecting wind data at the site and already has established lease agreements with landowners in the unincorporated town about eight miles west of Leoti.
The plans for the wind farm come at the heels of the completion of the Central Plains Wind Farm, east of Marienthal and owned and operated by Westar Energy. The 99-megawatt capacity wind farm became commercially operational at the end of March after plans for its development were announced in October 2007.
Wichita County has seen nearly a 20-percent increase in sales tax revenue from May 2008 to February, compared to the same time frame two years prior, Krenzel has said.
A second wind farm would greatly strengthen the county's valuation -- around $30 million -- and diversify the assets of a county with a population of about 2,300, she added.
"Our county valuation is based solely on agricultural land because we don't have a lot of oil or gas production," Krenzel said. "Nearly $250,000 in tax revenue has a much greater impact on our county than counties with higher valuations."
John Hensley, the site's developer with Wind Capital Group, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Tony Wyche, spokesman for Wind Capital Group, said there were several reasons the site was chosen, including its high wind speeds and access to transmission lines.
Wyche could not comment on the status of transmission line studies, negotiations on power purchase agreements or give a project timeline, but offered optimism that the project's completion in the next few years is promising.
"We'll own and operate the facility after it's developed, so it's important that we develop strong relationships with community members and landowners for the long-term," he said. "(The project) is certainly something we're excited about and hope to be able to complete in a timely manner."
A further role by county officials in the project -- beyond cooperation in road development and maintenance if the project proceeds -- is limited, Krenzel said.
According to Westar Energy, Wichita County's Central Plains Wind Farm employed more than 100 workers at the peak of it's construction, and a full-time staff of seven workers are employed to monitor and maintain the site.
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