National Wind
Encyclopedia
National Wind, LLC is a Minneapolis company founded in 2003 that is a developer of large-scale, community-based wind energy
projects. The company, along with National Wind Assessments, has 50 employees based in Minneapolis, MN
and Grand Forks
, North Dakota
. National Wind claims to be the nation’s leading developer of community-based wind farms.
. Each wind
project is structured as its own limited liability company
(LLC) and is formed as a partnership between National Wind and local community members and landowners. Although National Wind is generally the developer and manager of its wind projects, it shares ownership of each project company with members of the communities where the wind farm is located. National Wind highlights the benefits of the community model, saying that community ownership benefits local economies along with the environment.
National Wind’s business model differs from the structure of most other wind developers. Traditionally, when a company builds a wind farm, they become the sole owners of the development. The owners of the land where the farm is built tend to have minimal involvement with projects developer. In the tradition model, landowners do not own shares of the wind project, but instead are either paid a monthly lease or given royalties
from the sale of electricity
. On the other hand, National Wind's model aims to share both revenue and influence within local communities.
. Most of the company’s developments are located in the Midwestern United States
in Iowa
, Minnesota
, North Dakota
, South Dakota
, Colorado
, and Ohio
. Currently, National Wind has twelve families of utility-scale wind projects in development or operation.
sources continues to bolster America’s wind energy industry. As more and more companies begin to develop wind farms, competition amongst industry leaders remains strong.
Although National Wind claims to be the dominant community-based wind energy developer, it also faces competition from wind companies who follow a non-community business model. Its primary competitors include Florida Power and Light Company, Enxco, Invenergy LLC, and EcoEnergy LLC.
’s largest newspaper, the Star Tribune
, featured National Wind on the cover of the business section. National Wind has also been featured in Twin Cities Business, the Lincoln Star, and various other local publications.
CEO Leon Steinberg, representing one America's "leading wind-energy developers," was also cited in a July 2008 US News and World Report article on the importance of the federal production tax credit for the growing industry.
Wind energy
Wind energy is the kinetic energy of air in motion; see also wind power.Total wind energy flowing through an imaginary area A during the time t is:E = ½ m v2 = ½ v 2...
projects. The company, along with National Wind Assessments, has 50 employees based in Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and Grand Forks
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. National Wind claims to be the nation’s leading developer of community-based wind farms.
Community-based Model
National Wind operates under a community-based business modelBusiness model
A business model describes the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value...
. Each wind
Wind
Wind is the flow of gases on a large scale. On Earth, wind consists of the bulk movement of air. In outer space, solar wind is the movement of gases or charged particles from the sun through space, while planetary wind is the outgassing of light chemical elements from a planet's atmosphere into space...
project is structured as its own limited liability company
Limited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
(LLC) and is formed as a partnership between National Wind and local community members and landowners. Although National Wind is generally the developer and manager of its wind projects, it shares ownership of each project company with members of the communities where the wind farm is located. National Wind highlights the benefits of the community model, saying that community ownership benefits local economies along with the environment.
National Wind’s business model differs from the structure of most other wind developers. Traditionally, when a company builds a wind farm, they become the sole owners of the development. The owners of the land where the farm is built tend to have minimal involvement with projects developer. In the tradition model, landowners do not own shares of the wind project, but instead are either paid a monthly lease or given royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
from the sale of electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
. On the other hand, National Wind's model aims to share both revenue and influence within local communities.
Projects
National Wind develops and manages wind farms that produce, at minimum, 50 megawatts of renewable energyRenewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
. Most of the company’s developments are located in the Midwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Currently, National Wind has twelve families of utility-scale wind projects in development or operation.
- Emmet County Energy LLC (NorthStar Wind Farms) – Formed in 2005, so-called NorthStar wind project is a 250 megawatt development. The development is located in Emmet CountyEmmet County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,302 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,758 housing units, of which 4,236 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and Dickinson CountyDickinson County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,667 in the county, with a population density of . There were 12,849 housing units, of which 7,554 were occupied.-2000 census:...
in IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. The acquisition of a right of way for a short transmission line to connect the project with the grid in Jackson, MinnesotaJackson, MinnesotaJackson is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,299 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.-Geography:...
has been completed.
- M-Power LLC – Formed in 2006, M-Power is a 169.5 megawatt family of projects located in Griggs County and Steele CountySteele County, North Dakota-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,258 people, 923 households, and 635 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile . There were 1,231 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
, North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. M-Power is North Dakota’s largest community-owned wind energy development to date.**National Wind completed its involvement in April 2009 and is no longer associated with M-Power.
- High Country Energy LLC – Formed in 2007, High Country Energy is a 300 megawatt project located in Dodge CountyDodge County, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 17,731 people, 6,420 households, and 4,853 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile . There were 6,642 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
and Olmsted County, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
- Jeffers Wind Energy Center – Located in Cottonwood County, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, construction of the first 50 megawatt phase was completed in 2008 and turbines are generating electricity. National Wind no longer retains an ownership interest in the Jeffers project.
- Dakota Wind Energy LLC – Also formed in 2007, Dakota Wind Energy is National Wind’s largest planned development. The project, located in South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, it the state’s first large-scale community wind project at 750 megawatts.
- Root River Energy LLC – Formed in 2008, Root River Energy is a 300 megawatt family of developments in Fillmore CountyFillmore County, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 21,122 people, 8,228 households, and 5,718 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 8,908 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
- Lake Country Wind Energy – A 340-megawatt family of wind projects formed in 2008 in Meeker County and Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
- NECO Wind – Colorado's largest community wind development, NECO Wind is developing 650 MW of wind energy in Northeast Colorado in Sedgwick CountySedgwick County, ColoradoSedgwick County is the northeasternmost of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for Fort Sedgwick, a military post along the Platte Trail, which was named for General John Sedgwick. The county population was 2,379 at U.S. 2010 Census...
, Phillips CountyPhillips County, ColoradoPhillips County is one of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named in honor of R.O. Phillips, a secretary of the Lincoln Land Company, who organized several towns in Colorado. The county population was 4,480 at U.S. Census 2000...
, and Logan CountyLogan County, ColoradoLogan County is the 23rd most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county was named for General John A. Logan. The county population was 20,504 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Sterling...
.
- Goodhue Wind – The 78-megawatt community wind project is being developed by National Wind in Goodhue County, Minnesota.
- Red Rock Wind Energy – Many of the community members involved in Emmet County Energy decided to capture more of the potential wind energy in Emmet CountyEmmet County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,302 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,758 housing units, of which 4,236 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and Dickinson CountyDickinson County, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,667 in the county, with a population density of . There were 12,849 housing units, of which 7,554 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and formed Red Rock Wind Energy in 2008 to develop another 300 MW of wind energy in the two IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
counties.
- Little Rock Wind – A 150-megawatt family of community wind projects in Big Stone County, Minnesota.
- Northwest Ohio Wind Energy – Northwest Ohio Wind Energy formed in early 2009 after a local community group previously organized as Ohio Wind Energy, LLC, partnered with National Wind to develop 300 MW of community-based wind in Paulding CountyPaulding County, OhioAs of the census of 2000, there were 20,293 people, 7,773 households, and 5,689 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile . There were 8,478 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
and Van Wert County in northwest Ohio.
- Norfolk Wind Energy – Farmers in Renville CountyRenville County, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 17,154 people, 6,779 households, and 4,623 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile . There were 7,413 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, Minnesota, partnered with National Wind in early 2009 to develop 40 megawatts or more of community-based wind energy.
Assessment division
National Wind Assessments, a subdivision of National Wind LLC, specializes in the planning, permitting, and overall design of wind farms. Based in North Dakota, the assessment team analyzes potential wind farm sites using met tower installation, wind data acquisition, and environmental impact studies.Competition
The demand for sustainable energySustainable energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
sources continues to bolster America’s wind energy industry. As more and more companies begin to develop wind farms, competition amongst industry leaders remains strong.
Although National Wind claims to be the dominant community-based wind energy developer, it also faces competition from wind companies who follow a non-community business model. Its primary competitors include Florida Power and Light Company, Enxco, Invenergy LLC, and EcoEnergy LLC.
Media attention
Over the last few years, National Wind has garnered attention from a variety of local and national media outlets. On February 22, 2008, MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
’s largest newspaper, the Star Tribune
Star Tribune
The Star Tribune is the largest newspaper in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is published seven days each week in an edition for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. A statewide version is also available across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The...
, featured National Wind on the cover of the business section. National Wind has also been featured in Twin Cities Business, the Lincoln Star, and various other local publications.
CEO Leon Steinberg, representing one America's "leading wind-energy developers," was also cited in a July 2008 US News and World Report article on the importance of the federal production tax credit for the growing industry.