Wind project to benefit

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Monday, July 28, 2008

A 60-megawatt wind power project, planned by Minneapolis-based Project Resources Corp., will benefit Otter Tail County.

The Lakeswind project, when completed, will deliver its power to Great River Energy’s Tamarac substation north of Pelican Rapids. The energy would then be purchased by wholesalers and utility companies.

Project Resources President Paul White said Friday that his wife, Nancy, is a Fargo native who knew the potential of wind energy in Otter Tail, Clay and Becker Counties. White’s Minneapolis company plans to construct 20 to 30 wind turbines beginning next year.

“A handful of these wind turbines will be erected in Otter Tail County,” White said.

“I’ve traveled in northern Otter Tail County and am impressed with the wind energy potential.”

The overall cost of the project is estimated at $90 million. Work already is underway with road, electrical and foundation work. That’s expected to take about four months to complete. Erecting the wind turbines in Otter Tail and the other two counties would take another four months. The operation is expected to be up and running by winter 2009-10.

White and his employees also need to complete the land lease agreements with area property owners, work with environmental agencies and pass other regulatory hurdles.

Area regulators, including county commissioners from the three counties, are closely monitoring the project and will follow the construction timeline. The size of the wind turbines will be made known at a later date.

For close to a decade Project Resources has developed wind projects in the Upper Midwest. White has 17 years experience in the wind industry, including wind turbine manufacture, sales, wind project development, finance, construction and energy policy.

The company conducts planning and completion for large-scale wind projects as well as single turbine installations. Project Resources works with wind assessments, regulatory review, legal review and economic modeling. The company manages all construction activities from financial closing to project commissioning.