Cherry County Wind Energy Association

The Beginning

March of 2010

Cherry County Commissioners asked several individuals to serve on a Wind Energy Advisory Committee with the primary purpose to help Cherry County develop policies to become the leading county in Nebraska for wind energy production.

Commissioners Goals for the Committee

Encourage community based development that would maximize benefits for landowners, communities, and all residents of Cherry County by:

• Strengthening and broadening the tax base.

• Being mindful of our wildlife resources.

• Providing high quality employment.

• Maintaining our quality of life.

• Growing our economy.

Tasks to be Prioritized by Committee

• Best Landowner contract guidelines.

• Transmission line options – energy export.

• Taxation benefits/options.

• Establishment of no-build wildlife and scenery zones.

• Necessary enabling legislation/local zoning regulations.

• Options for recruiting businesses utilizing wind energy.

• Establish needs/options for capital formation of large scale projects.

• Facilitate small scale wind energy development.

• Coordinate with public power entities.

• Explore net metering options.

Established Priorities

•Wind energy development must benefit all citizens of the County.

• Environmentally sensitive areas need to be identified early and designated as no-build zones.

•Be proactive partners with NG&P and USFWS.

•Advocate transmission line development for energy export.

• Develop a plan for an association/cooperative to bargain for enhanced landowner payments.

•Erect MET towers to collect and analyze wind data.

Wind Conference 2010

Opportunity Presents Itself

November 2010 – November 2011• SPP proposes a 345kV transmission line to be built south of Cherry

County.

• NPPD requests a revised plan to move line north into Cherry County, east to Hoskins, and south to Brownville.

• Committee initiated discussions with Pat Pope, COO of NPPD.

• Committee Joins NTAG.

Association takes Life

July 2011

• Committee forms a Non-Profit Association.

– Landowners would be able to commit their acres to the project.

– Upon approval of the SPP line revision the Non-Profit would convert to a For-Profit Association.

– Assessments would be made to complete the environmental studies and erect MET towers.

Benefits of an Association

• Collective Bargaining Power (Strength in Numbers)

• Local Control of Project

• Owning the Collected Wind Data & Environmental Studies

• Increased Cooperation on Environmental Studies

– Ability to Engage NGP, USFWS

• Developed Relationships with Regional Utilities

• Economies of Scale

• Greater Revenue Potential For All Involved

Cherry County Wind Energy Association

Board members were elected to the newly formed CCWEA in October.

Elected Board Members

• George Johnson – Chairman

• Matt Coble – Vice-Chairman

• Tom Cooper – Treasurer

• Adam Fischer - Secretary

Other Board Members

• Todd Adamson

• Mike Burge

• John Hansen

• Gary Garvin

• Mark Adamson

Cherry County Wind Energy Trust Fund

• Trust Fund to receive 5% of all Association revenues.

• 50% of the Trusts income will be made available for distribution with the balance reinvested to maintain its longevity.

• A separate entity run by citizens of Cherry County.

Purpose:• Funding infrastructure to support expansion of the workforce.

• Educational and Health Care Facilities.

• Support and enhance the future economic well being of Cherry County.

• Help restore Cherry County after the life of the project.

Questions ?