Representatives from Triple Oak Power presented specifics on a possible wind turbine project to about two dozen people Thursday, July 13, at the Durant Community Center.
The current projected map for the wind farm stretches 20,000 acres across Scott, Muscatine and Cedar counties. Whether or not those boundaries expand or contract is subject to change as they continue discussions with area landowners, according to Jesse Bermel, director of business development for Triple Oak.
“The project is as initial as it gets,” said Bermel. “We’re definitely still trying to get to know community members, but we’re excited to be here because we really think this will benefit communities.”
Thursday’s presentation included expected impacts on crops and wildlife, ways the project might benefit the area, as well as hearing concerns from property owners within the project’s planned footprint.
Cedar County property owner Roy Gerhls said, while there is a need to expand energy sources beyond coal and natural gas, he is concerned how crops would actually be affected. He is also uncertain of how the company would maintain turbines, and what might happen once they are no longer operational.
His concern was shared by Cedar County property owner Cal Lilienthal, who referenced a wind turbine that caught fire in March near Mechanicsville, Iowa, resulting in scattered debris across acres of farmland.
The wind farm near Mechanicsville is not run by Triple Oak and, though the damaged turbine is still standing, Cedar County ordinance allows a year for repair or decommissioning of the structure. Expansion of the road near the damaged turbine is underway for crane access to begin repair or demolition, but no permits for crane usage have been submitted, according to minutes from the June 27 Cedar County supervisors meeting.
Bermel said he isn’t aware of the situation in Mechanicsville, but a turbine fire is quite rare. As for maintenance and repair for possible turbines in Cedar, Scott or Muscatine counties, he said it’s just one of multiple ways a wind farm benefits communities.
“If there’s a turbine malfunction, whether it’s a simple fix or serious damage, we’ll have people on site that are dedicated to keeping the turbine running,” said Bermel. “Those are folks who live in your community, and some of the new jobs that this project will help create if it progresses.”
As well as creating jobs and annual payments to property owners, Bermel said the turbine project is an investment on the land that generates tax dollars for schools, roads and other infrastructure.
After 16 years in the wind energy business, Bermel said he has witnessed first-hand the construction of courthouses and expansions of school buildings that were funded by wind farms and “not on the backs of taxpayers.”
“If you build improvements on a property, just like a house, a business or anything else, they generate taxes that benefit those counties, communities and jurisdictions, and benefit the schools, roads and public services,” he said.
Bermel emphasized that no financial obligations for the turbines would fall on the shoulders of property owners. He also said that Triple Oak would stay in contact with property owners who sign an agreement and keep them updated as the project develops.
Triple Oak currently estimates it would take between four to seven years of project development before any actual construction. Regardless of development or construction, those who sign a lease agreement would start receiving payments in 60 days.
They are primarily looking at ag land for development of the turbines, and the timeframe also includes a variety of environmental assessments to understand any possible impact on local wildlife populations.
“Depending on where we end up being, we will need to do an evaluation and surveys to understand the concerns fish and wildlife might have,” said Bermel. “But the project needs to progress farther for us to get a better understanding of what is in the project area.”
Bermel said they think affected wildlife would include eagles and bats, but the degree they might be impacted would have to be examined. As for turbines interrupting farmer’s crops, once a turbine is constructed and operational, he said it would only take up about an acre of farmland.
“That acre would include an access road and the wind turbine,” said Bermel.
Thursday’s forum was the third meeting to discuss the project with area property owners. Invitations were sent out to anyone that ended up in the footprint of the proposed wind farm.
Triple Oak is in Portland, Ore., but has developments planned across a number of states including Iowa, South Dakota and Arkansas. They currently have one project under construction outside of Houston, Texas.
More informational meetings and public forums will be announced as the project develops.
