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Community Wind
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Community Wind refers to wind projects that are uniquely structured such that they are locally owned. At least one members of the community must have a direct financial stake in the project. Community wind projects are beneficial to their owners in the form of reduced taxes, decreased energy costs, and improved infrastructure. Examples of groups currently involved with community wind include farmers, municipal utility companies, schools, colleges, universities, Native American tribes, towns and cities. While risks for community wind projects are higher than simply leasing land to existing developers, that economic possibilities are far greater for the individuals.
Structure
Community Wind projects can be structured in many different ways including:
Municipal Wind
Municipal entities, such as a school district or county develop and install wind projects on public land. These projects are often financed with tax-exempt municipal bonds. Power is sold to the local utilities or used to displace current consumption.1
On Sites Behind Meter
These projects are developed and installed 'behind the meter' or on the consumer's side. They provide a displacement of current energy consumption and also the opportunity to sell back to the grid unused energy.2
Co-Ops
Members of cooperative combine resources and costs together, to structure developments. These forms of development are common in rural areas and most are non-profit organizations.3
Multiple Local Investors
Investors come together to form a limited liability corporation for purposes of financing, developing, and owning a wind project. These projects usually use typical financing through debt and capital raising.4
Resources:
Community Wind, Windustry, http://www.windustry.org/communitywind
Community Wind Fact-Sheet Series, RERL University of Massachusetts Amherst, http://www.ceere.org/rerl/about_wind/
Community Wind and Wind Energy and the Environment, Wind-Works, http://www.wind-works.org/articles/community.html#Coop%20&%20Community%20Wind
Community vs Corporate Wind, Does it Matter Who Develops the Wind in Big Stone County, MN?, University of Minnesota, Morris. http://cda.mrs.umn.edu/~kildegac/CV/Papers/IREE.pdf
Footnotes
1. Community vs Corporate Wind, Does it Matter Who Develops the Wind in Big Stone County, MN? P4
2. Community vs Corporate Wind, Does it Matter Who Develops the Wind in Big Stone County, MN? P. 4-5
3. Community vs Corporate Wind, Does it Matter Who Develops the Wind in Big Stone County, MN? P. 5
4. Community vs Corporate Wind, Does it Matter Who Develops the Wind in Big Stone County, MN? P. 5-6
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