If you have questions that are not addressed below, please contact a member of the Mitchell Wind Energy team
The first step in the development of a wind project is to identify an area with sufficient wind to support a commercial wind project. A wind resource evaluation is performed using meteorological towers and LIDAR to collect data to help determine the wind resource potential at a particular location. By analyzing the data collected, specifically how often and how strongly the wind blows throughout the year, wind developers can simulate the performance of future wind projects and determine if the selected site is feasible to host wind turbines.
MET towers are structures designed to gather wind energy resource data. The towers are equipped with sensors and data loggers to collect wind data, such as wind speed and wind flow to characterize the wind resource at that particular location.
The MET towers used for this project are made of galvanized steel tubing, stand 198 feet (60 meters) tall, and are secured using guy wires. Because of this, no foundations are required. The guy wires are secured using ground anchors that are buried to a depth of approximately 3 to 5 feet. The tower’s installation will be temporary, and all equipment will be removed once relevant data has been collected. Following that, the ground will be restored to its natural condition.
The proposed MET towers have been sited to avoid impacts to sensitive resources. Additionally, the MET tower base and guy wires are fenced to prevent interactions with livestock and wildlife.
Typical wind resource evaluations last at least two years and may go on longer, depending on the amount of data that is needed.
12-18 months into testing, Mitchell Wind will determine whether or not to submit a wind development application to BLM. If Mitchell Wind decides to move forward with an application, the MET towers will remain in place or moved to another location. If Mitchell Wind does not decide to move forward with an application, the MET towers and related equipment will be moved and the ground will be restored to its natural condition.
Wind projects provide numerous benefits to the communities in which they are sited. Wind projects represent significant local investments and drive meaningful increases in the local taxable property bases. Wind projects also provide guaranteed annual property tax payments to local taxing jurisdictions, which allow county and local officials to make long-term financial plans and increase spending on public services and other critically important infrastructure.
Wind projects pay millions of dollars per year directly to landowners through lease and easement agreements, resulting in a diversified revenue stream that protects against fluctuating commodity prices and preserves family properties for future generations. In addition, these projects directly create full-time equivalent jobs during the construction and installation phases and support indirect and induced jobs during development and construction.
Only <1%-4% of a wind project area is occupied by project infrastructure, leaving the remaining majority available for current land use. As a part of the site design process, Mitchell Wind Energy maps existing infrastructure and applies setbacks to create a “usable area” that turbines are sited within. This process allows for flexible and collaborative siting, enabling productive use of the same land for multiple purposes.
If you sign a lease agreement for the project, it will allow the Mitchell Wind Energy to include you in the planning phase for development and potentially installing and operating wind turbines and other project-related facilities on your property. Mitchell Wind Energy is committed to working with you during the lease negotiation process. If you have concerns that you would like addressed in the lease, Mitchell Wind Energy will work with you to make reasonable changes to fit your needs as we know and appreciate that everyone’s property is different.
The lease agreement runs with the land. If the land ownership is transferred, the lease agreement remains active on the property, and the new owner of the property will receive the payments.
During operations, you will have the ability to use the leased premises for grazing, ranching, or any other activities as long as there is not interference with ongoing wind energy production and operations.
Under the Wind Lease the Project is fully responsible for maintaining the wind project facilities for the duration of the Project’s useful life. The Project is responsible for security and equipment repair and replacement for all wind facilities on leased premises. Road and turbine maintenance will be performed by the Project staff or a company contracted directly by the Project to maintain the wind facilities.
Mitchell Wind Energy is also responsible for security and equipment repair and replacement for all wind facilities on leased premises.