Deb James left the Cass County fairgrounds last week sensing an opportunity.

She had just attended a presentation on the potential for a wind farm development that, if constructed, could net landowners anything from $5,000 to $14,000 a year.

Not wanting to miss out, James was clear on what she felt needed to happen.

“We have got to get people to pull together and go into it together so we can make it happen,” James said. “You don’t want to look down the road and see someone who has got one and you don’t. You have got to make sure that you have all of your paperwork in order.”

Fred Seehase, a farmer who owns land between Twelve Mile and Royal Center, was also encouraged by the presentation. He said that wind energy could be a good thing for the county and should be something that is pursued.

James and Seehase were joined at the presentation by about 100 local residents, government officials and utility operators.

Representatives from Duke Energy, Purdue University and BP Wind Energy were also on hand to answer questions and concerns from the audience.

Roger Brown, a business developer with BP Wind Energy, said as well as strong winds, public education and cooperation will be crucial for any wind farm development to go ahead in Cass County.

“Not all communities are educated on wind,” Brown said. “There are a number of items that get in the way and may create some reason not to do that. But we are finding that a lot of communities are very interested and encouraged to bring developers in because of the economic development and revenue opportunities.”

Commissioner Dave Arnold is a strong supporter of the potential economic benefits of a wind farm.

He described the scenario as a win-win for everyone involved — from the land owners to the environment — pointing to the huge revenues generated by wind farms in Benton County to support his point.

Developers paid the county $1 million up front in exchange for a 10-year tax abatement on the first 87 turbines constructed. In the latest 222-turbine development, developers have already paid the county $2 million out of an eventual $4 million. In 10 years, once all the tax abatements have run their course, the county expects to bring in $3.45 million a year based on the existing tax rate.

“What it would do for our tax base is take a lot of the burden off of the people who farm and live in Cass County,” Arnold said.

Arnold said there were two prospective areas in the county known to have sufficient wind to power a wind turbine — in the north of the county in an area south of Ind. 16 near Royal Center and Lucerne, and in the south near Walton and Galveston, south of Ind. 218.

He said further studies were still required to pinpoint where the turbines might be constructed, with any development still two to three years away.

During the meeting, some questioned the liability of landowners for incidents related to the turbines and also whether the wind mills would impact satellite signals for residents living nearby.

Jimmy Bricker, Purdue University’s extension office educator in Benton County, and a key player in Indiana’s largest wind farm development, said that by establishing ordinances, the liability should be placed on the developer. A poor television signal, though, is likely to remain a problem.

“That is something you would have to get used to,” he said.

On Monday, the Cass County Planning Commission will again invite citizens to ask questions and voice concerns at a public hearing on a proposed wind ordinance for the county.

Assistant Planning Director Arin Shaver said the ordinance included the recommended height of the turbines, how far turbines were set back from homes, rules for decommissioning and stipulations against eyesores on roads and land once the turbine had been constructed.

Arnold encouraged residents to attend Monday’s meeting, and again emphasized that the decision remained in their court.

“If people want it, we will get it,” he said.

• Kevin Smith is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at (574) 732-5148 or kevin.smith@pharostribune.com



Want to go?

What: Cass County Plan Commission public hearing on wind ordinance

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Cass County Commissioners Hearing Room, second floor of the County Building