Gary Luebke, Chairman of the Advisory Board
After growing up in Western Goodhue County, and continuing to be involved in farm management in the Upper Midwest, it has become quite evident to me that the number of enterprises on each farm is diminishing. It often happens that when a livestock operation is discontinued, several crops disappear as well, resulting in fewer sources of farm income.
Goodhue Wind LLC is offering farmers in the Goodhue area the opportunity to add another cash crop and participate in the sale of an existing resource without going through a long and complicated process on their own to develop a market. Everybody who lives in the area knows how the wind can blow. If this constantly renewable resource can be harvested and sold into the electric grid, the entire community will benefit for many years to come. The sooner we can take advantage of the best winds blowing through Goodhue County, the better.
I’ve been exposed to several business models of wind energy development from the small entrepreneur to a large Community Based Energy Development (C-BED) project. It is well documented that C-BED projects provide for the greatest amount of local benefit. C-BED projects are very much like cooperatives, giving local landowners and community members the chance to become project owners. National Wind LLC, the manager of Goodhue Wind, provides in-depth knowledge and experience in taking a project from initial planning to commercial operation. Partnering National Wind’s expertise with a local board delivers a unique blend of talents and insight, resulting in the formation of a truly community-based project.
There are few, if any, opportunities other than those currently offered by Goodhue Wind LLC where farmers can sell an existing renewable resource with a long term guaranteed price and an annual predetermined escalator payment. I would encourage you to get to know the local Goodhue Wind people and learn the facts about our wind project, our competitive compensation package, and our commitment to the community.
