Forum focuses on wind energy

12/10/2007 9:09:14 AM

By Tim Ruzek

Post-Bulletin, Austin MN

GRAND MEADOW -- Mower County's terrain has attracted much interest for wind-power development in recent years.

Local leaders are offering a forum Wednesday featuring several experts to better explain development options to landowners and answer questions related to wind development.

Development Corp. of Austin and the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce are hosting a wind-energy discussion from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Grumpy's restaurant in Grand Meadow. It's open to the public at no charge.

Experts on community wind, also referred to as C-BED projects, will discuss the basic details and feasibility of locally owned wind development.

Dan Juhl, who's recognized as a leading expert in community based energy development, is scheduled to be among the forum's panelists. Juhl, of DanMar Associates, has done a variety of work in the wind industry in the past 25 years, such as designing and manufacturing a 25-kilowatt wind turbine, maintaining wind turbines and providing technical and consulting services.

Mower County Board member Ray Tucker, who represents the county's eastern half, where most of the wind-energy projects are happening, also is slated to give a presentation on current and planned wind projects in the county.

Another panelist is expected to be Kenric Scheevel, a government-affairs specialist with Dairyland Power Cooperative, which includes Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services. Based in La Crosse, Wis., Dairyland provides wholesale electrical requirements and services for 25 electric-distribution cooperatives and 19 municipal utilities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan.

Officials also tentatively scheduled to have John Fuller, counsel for the Minnesota Senate's Jobs, Energy and Community Development Committee.

Wind-energy forum

Who: Development Corp. of Austin and the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Where: Grumpy's, 204 Fourth Ave. N.E., Grand Meadow.

When: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Why: Mower County farmers and landowners have seen growing activity with wind-energy development in the past several years.