TradeWind Energy Seeks Leases
Last updated Tuesday, September 23, 2008 6:50 PM CDT in News
By Scarlet Sims
THE MORNING NEWS
GRAVETTE -- A handful of northwest Benton County residents gathered at Ice House Coffee in Gravette to ask questions about how a possible wind farm can help rural residents.
"I understand it's strictly in the talking phase but everything starts somewhere," said Gary O'Neal, who owns 80 acres about 3 miles west of Sulphur Springs. "Never underestimate small beginnings."
TradeWind Energy of Kansas is actively securing leases from landowners near Sulphur Springs. The company hopes to put 100 wind turbines on about 25,000 acres in northwest Benton County and Delaware County, Okla., said Aaron Weigel, development manager for the project. Most of the acreage will be in Arkansas, he said.
"The intent is that we build these things in rural areas because they fit in best there," Weigel said.
TradeWind has already invested a "significant amount" in the project, but Weigel wouldn't say how much. Total cost for the project may run between $2 million and $4 million, including building or improving roads and installing wind turbines, company representatives have said.
The Benton County Planning Board approved a variance Sept. 17 allowing the company to install a meteorological tower to test wind speed and temperature near Sulphur Springs. The company will collect data for about two years, then turbines could be built in less than 18 months, Weigel said.
Even without the test information, TradeWind is proceeding with developing plans for the wind farm, Weigel said.
So far, 300 property owners, mostly in Oklahoma, have agreed to lease wind rights to TradeWind, said Bob Nieman, leasing specialist. The largest land owner in northwest Benton County has also agreed to lease property to TradeWind, he said.
Leasing specialists must still contact more than 200 property owners in Benton County.
Getting all the leases will take time, Nieman said. Talks with a property owner can take a month before the lease is signed. Specialists meet with property owners in person multiple times, he said.
"This is a long-term relationship," Nieman said.
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