PPM Energy’s Trimont Area Wind Farm (Minnesota, USA) began commercial operation on 29 November 2005. The Trimont Area Wind Farm (TAWF) consists of 67 General Electric wind turbines situated on approximately 8,900 acres (3,600ha) of farmland. TAWF was launched by a coalition of 43 landowners in Jackson and Martin counties.
The group responded to a Great River Energy request for proposals in 2003. TAWF was selected because of its competitive price, its access to interconnection facilities, and its ability to deliver the power to Great River Energy’s member cooperatives. Subsequent to its selection by Great River Energy, TAWF chose PPM Energy to develop, build and operate the project on its behalf. This project provides more benefit to landowners than the typical wind project. Landowners benefit from revenue participation, as well as from traditional easement payments. In addition, production tax revenues from the project for Jackson and Martin counties are expected to range from US$ 350,000 to 400,000 annually. Great River Energy (www.GreatRiverEnergy.com) is a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative providing electricity to 28 distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin. It is the second largest power supplier in the state of Minnesota, and the fourth largest cooperative of its type in the nation.
