Wolf Wind Farm begins producing energy
Julie Buntjer
Worthington Daily Globe - 04/25/2006
RUSHMORE — As the wind howled and the turbines hummed, representatives of federal, state and local government clamored Monday afternoon inside one of five recently completed wind turbines in Section 5 of Ransom Township, south of Rushmore, to celebrate Earth Day.

Wolf Wind Farm was established as a family partnership between Ryan Wolf, his sister, Gina, their parents, Mike and Cindy, and grandfather Joe. Their five wind turbines, constructed with nearly $1 million in renewable energy grants and an equity investor, began producing energy for the Central Minnesota Municipal Power Agency on Friday. The farm will produce enough energy to power nearly 5,000 homes.

On Monday, state and federal representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) were on hand to see the wind energy project’s completion and to recognize Minnesota for taking the lead in renewable energy.

“I can’t think of a better place to be for a meeting,” said Steve Wenzel, state director of the USDA’s office of Rural Development, as he stood inside the base of the 250-foot tower.

Wenzel, along with Curtis Anderson, deputy administrator for Rural Development Utilities Programs, and representatives from Sen. Norm Coleman and Rep. Gil Gutknecht’s offices, visited a trio of southwest Minnesota communities Monday, including Bigelow and Hatfield.

Federal funding for the nearly $7.5 million Wolf Wind Farm was obtained in 2003 through the USDA Renewable Energy grant program, included in Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill.

“Minnesota leads the nation in being recipients of 9006 funding,” Wenzel said. “We’re way out in front of No. 2 and No. 3, which I believe are Iowa and Wisconsin.”

The funds used to complete those renewable energy projects, however, are in danger of being slashed.

The Minnesota Project’s Amanda Bilek said the grant program could be slashed from $23 million nationwide to just $10.8 million. That will create a funding crunch for farmers like the Wolfs who want to use a renewable resource like the wind to generate electricity.

In 2005, more than 380 applications were made for the federal renewable energy grants. Of those, only 150 farmers, ranchers and small business owners were awarded funds.