The new gold rush. The power of the wind is growing across Montana
| April 20, 2008 |  View for printing |
A new breed of prospector is scouring Montana's hills, but wind is the resource it seeks.
Before these prospectors harvest that gold in the sky, however, they've got to secure the real key to the mother lode — permission from landowners to build towering wind turbines the size of a Boeing 747.
Across the state, from Circle in the east to Ennis in the west, the race is on to lock up the best sites by courting landowners and sealing deals for exclusive rights to explore and develop wind power.
Hundreds of thousands of acres already are under lease to foreign and U.S. wind developers.
"In a way, it's like a mini-little gold rush," said Hertha Lund, a Bozeman attorney who has represented landowners in Wyoming and Montana in negotiations with wind developers.
By KARL PUCKETT Tribune Staff Writer
Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/app ... 200303/1002
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Lease agreements confidential, except with school trust land
For competitive reasons, wind companies don't disclose what they're paying landowners to lease property for wind farms.
Oftentimes, landowners sign confidentiality agreements when leasing their property for such ventures.
Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/app ... 200307/1002
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$400 million wind project near Ethridge under way
By KARL PUCKETT Tribune Staff Writer
Work on what will be Montana's largest wind farm is under way in Glacier and Toole counties.
The 210-megawatt Glacier Wind Project is owned by NaturEner USA, whose global headquarters are in Spain.
Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/app ... 200306/1002
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