Progress

The High Country Wind Energy Center is making progress every day toward its anticipated commercial

operation date. Discover below how far we have come and what is next in the development process.

Menu of our Progress:

Summer 2009

  • Interconnection Milestone Achieved
  • High Country Footprint Expands to the North
  • South Footprint Update
  • New Field Specialists Join Team
  • Wisconsin Public Service Project
  • Out and About at the Fairs
  • High Country Hosts Party to Celebrate Successes

April 2009

  • Final Phase Interconnection Study Process
  • High Country Energy & Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Sign Agreement on Wind Farm Purchase
  • 22,000 Acres Signed, New Footprint Announced

December 2008

  • High Country Energy Announces Holiday Open House and Local Food Drive
  • High Country Energy Announces the Opening of its Kasson, MN Office Location

October 2008

  • Two Local Community Members Join High Country Energy's Advisory Board
  • High Country Energy Closes the Nation's First Intrastate Public Offering for a Wind Project

August 2008

  • "Summer Celebration"!

June 2008

  • High Country Energy Announces the Nation's First Public Offering

March 2008

  • High Country Energy and Wisconsin Public Service Corp. Announce Agreement on Wind Farm Purchase

January 2008

  • Utility Co-Development and Acquisition
  • The 2nd Meteorological Tower is Installed
  • Wind Option Update

September 2007

  • September 2007: High Country Energy is Formed and Capitalized


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Summer 2009


Interconnection Milestone Achieved

High Country Energy has reached an important project milestone! One of our two interconnection requests, G852,has entered the final stage of the Midwest Independent System Operator's (MISO) study process, known as the Definitive Planning Phase (DPP). This is the final review stage before connection to the electrical transmission system is granted, and will result in an estimate of the scope and cost of network upgrades as well as an interconnection agreement with MISO.

High Country Footprint Expands to the North


Summer is always an exciting time for everybody, buzzing with many activities including vacations and outdoor festivites. It's much the same for High Country Energy, as our field staff expand into a second footprint area. Termed our North Footprint, we are working to secure land in Dodge and Olmsted Counties' Mantorville, Milton, Concord, Wasioja, New Haven and Kalmar townships. This footprint is targeted to support 150+ megawatts of wind energy generation across an expanse of over 20,000 acres. e expect this wind farm to be operational by 2013.

South Footprint Update

Expanding our wind project into the North Footprint for a subsequent 150MW phase is due in part to the progress we have made on our first footprint, the South Footprint. We except this footprint to support up to 300MW of wind energy in Vernon, Rock Dell and Hayfield townships. We have gained the participation of nearly 200 local community members and investors. With our interconnection request for this footprint currently in the final study phase of the interconnection process (DPP), we anticipate beginning construction in 2010 and operation in 2011.

New Field Specialists Join  Team

Please welcome Skip DeLong and JJ Jones to the High Country Energy project team! Brought on to help secure land rights in our North Footprint, Skip & JJ bring years of valubable experience to High Country Energy. Both Skip & JJ join High Country after successful work at other National Wind projects. Before joining High Country Skip worked as a field specialist assigned to the M-Power 169.5 MW Luverne Wind Farm project in North Dakota, which is now under construction. JJ worked on the NECO Wind project in Colorado.

Wisconsin Public Service Project

High Country Energy & Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) have been closely watching the requirements of our Acquisition and Sale Agreement (ASA) in light of the acceleration of our G852 interconnection request into MISO's Definitive Planning Phase (DPP).

The original letter of intent, signed in March 2008, was negotiated between WPS and High Country Energy prior to MISO’s queue reform, and the ASA was signed during MISO’s post-reform transition period. To take advantage of a “first ready, first served” MISO approach, High Country moved G852 into the DPP. After High Country Energy’s G852 interconnection request moved into DPP, the siting and interconnect issues associated with moving to the DPP began to be more evident. The result was it became more difficult to keep High County’s and WPS objectives aligned. We came to the conclusion that the siting and interconnect issues could not be resolved in time to meet the ASA schedule requirements, and effective July 2, 2009, WPS exercised a milestone option and terminated the ASA.

Out and About  at the Fairs

High Country Energy participated as an exhibitor in the Dodge County Fair from July 15th-19th and at the Olmsted County Fair from July 27th-August 2nd. Field specialists, Dan, JJ and Missy, alongn with some of the project's local founders and developer Tiff Thompson, help raise familiarity with the project at both fairs.

Participation in the fairs also creates opportunities for dialogue with local community members about the difference between High Country Energy and non-community based wind projects in the area.

High Country Host Party to Celebrate Successes


Friday, August 21st, 2009, marks the 2nd annual High Country Energy celebration bash at board member Dana Christie’s Stewartville residence, located at 10685 County Road 108 SW, and YOU’RE INVITED! This end of summer event recognizes High Country Energy’s 2nd anniversary, along with its development accomplishments.

April 2009


Final Phase in Interconnection Study Process

Transmission is a complicated issue for all wind farms being planned. High Country Energy is working in collaboration with Wisconsin Public Service Corporation to devise an energy-efficient and economically-viable transmission plan. High Country Energy currently has two interconnection requests filed with the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO), both of which have moved into the Definitive Planning Stage of the interconnection process.

In September 2007, MISO launched a work group to discuss how to improve the interconnection process. The MISO transmission system was facing a “backlog” of requests and under its current rules, it would need until 2050 to process all the interconnection applications. MISO’s main problem was its “first-come, first-served” structure, which allowed anyone to submit a request. In order to improve service and reduce the amount of time projects spend in the “queue,” modifying the process became necessary.

As of October 2008, the process for interconnection has been revised. Under the revised system, a subset of several milestones must be reached that are indicative of “project-readiness” and commitment to move forward with the interconnection. This includes having site control, permits, and Power Purchase Agreements in place. One issue with the new system is the increased expense of participating in interconnection study processes. However, High Country Energy’s development team remains positive.



High Country Energy and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Sign Agreement on Wind Farm Purchase

High Country Energy, LLC, and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPSC), a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE: TEG), have signed a definitive Acquisition and Sale Agreement (ASA) for a 150 megawatt (MW) portion of the High Country Wind Energy Park.

In March 2008, WPS signed a letter of intent with High Country Energy to work toward this final agreement. This agreement requires a “construction-ready” sale of the project, where High Country Energy and WPS will co-develop the wind park.

Construction of the project will be dependent on the timeline set by the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) for transmitting the electricity. MISO is the organization that manages the transmission grid for this geographical region.

As proposed, this first phase will include an estimated 100 turbines, providing up to 150 MW’s of capacity, or enough energy to power 45,000 homes.

The energy from this first project phase will be delivered to WPS’s service territory, consisting of a large portion of north central Wisconsin and a small part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.



22,000 Acres Signed, New Footprint Announced

Site control is one of the most important pieces in wind project development. Establishing site control ensures the exclusive rights to develop a wind project at a proposed site. For a 300 megawatt, utility-scale wind farm, complete site control will require about 35,000 to 40,000 acres of land. Dan Hemmingsen and Missy Kelley began site control efforts in July 2007 and secured 22,000 acres of the southern footprint by January 2009, allowing for a near-complete footprint for the 150 MW Wisconsin Public Service Corporation wind farm. The southern footprint includes Vernon, Rock Dell, and Hayfield townships. The project area is also being re-positioned to include a second footprint that encompasses the following northern townships: Mantorville, Milton, Concord, Wasioja and Kalmar townships. Missy Kelley and Dan Hemmingsen are actively working on securing land in the “new” northern footprint which is located three miles north of the point of interconnection.

The important difference in High Country Energy’s community wind farm development, versus other projects in the area is that landowners get the opportunity to become owners of the development company. Compared to other developer-owned projects, community-based developments distribute more benefits to local economies. More proceeds from the wind project remain in the community.

December 2008


High Country Energy Announces Holiday Open House and Local Food Drive

High Country Energy, along with its managing partner, National Wind, invites the community to share the holiday spirit at an open house in their new Kasson office (122 West Main Street) on Monday, December 22, 2008 from 1pm to 7pm. Learn how this locally-owned wind farm development will benefit the community and participate in a local food drive that will help feed hungry families.

Anyone from the communtiy is welcome to attend to meet with local High Country Energy members and National Wind. The public is encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item in exchange for a picture with Santa Claus. All food drive items will benefit the Channel One Food Bank and Food Shelf and the Semcac Dodge County Food Shelf, helping feed people in need in Olmsted County, Dodge County, and throughout the SE Minnesota area.

 High Country Energy Announces the Opening of its Kasson, MN Office


High Country Energy, LLC along with its manager, National Wind, LLC, announces today the opening of an office in Kasson, Minnesota. The new office will allow High Country Energy to better address the growing demand for local involvement in their wind farm development, along with improving services to the current 190 local participating residents. Read the press release here

October 2008


Two Local Community Members Join the Advisory Board of High Country Energy

High Country Energy is pleased to announce that two respected community members will be joining their advisory board. John Meyer of Stewartville, MN and Lisa Heggedahl of Hayfield, MN, will help the board ensure that the wind project stays in touch with local interests and ideas. Both hold a passion for this renewable energy source as well as community involvement, making them a valuble asset to this community development model. Read the press release here

High Country Energy Closes the Nation's First Intrastate Public Offering for a Wind Project

High Country Energy's public offering, filed in May of 2008, was completed in as  little as four months. The offering added approximately 60 investors to the project company. Many of the 100 members who have signed wind rights with High Country Energy, own units in the company.

This offering helps further the project's goals of having a large portion of the community participate in the project. Read the press release here

August 2008


High Country Energy had a "Summer Celebration" on Friday, August 15, 2008. The event was held at board member, Dana Christie's house in Stewartville, Minnesota. Over 100 High Country Members attended, helping celebrate the project's success. High Country Energy board members, Bryant Hokeness, Dana Christie, Erick Lee, Dan Hoffman, and Barry Rognes were present. Attendees enjoyed food, drink, and the many giveaway items that were handed out, including two, large windmill lawn ornaments! View photos here

June 2008


High Country Energy Announces Intrastate Public Offering

This offering is the first of its kind - an intrastate public offering for a wind farm's securities. Delphi Financial Corp., an investment banking firm specializing in raising capital for community-based renewable energy projects, is the placement agent for the offering. The offering is only open to Minnesota residents, and landowners in the project area will receive priority. Please visit www.delphfinancial.com for more information and to register to view a prospectus online.


March 2008


Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and High Country Energy Team up to Build 150 MW


On March 14, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPSC) announced that it had signed a letter of intent with High Country Energy to co-develop and acquire the first 150 megawatt phase of the wind project. This phase will cover around 35 square miles of High Country Energy’s 78 square miles of land and will include an estimated 100 turbines. High Country Energy and WPSC expect to wrap up the permitting and transmission process and begin construction on this portion of the wind park in the next two years. A significant portion of the proceeds from this sale will be returned to the landowners who have ownership interest in High Country Energy.

January 2008


2nd Met Tower is Installed to Collect Wind Data

National Wind Assessments, the wind resource analysis division of National Wind, installed the second on-site meteorological tower within the High Country Energy footprint, the week of January 28th, 2008. Four months ago, the first meteorological tower was installed. Studies thus far indicate strong wind speeds.


Utility Co-Development and Acquisition

High Country Energy has been in negotiations with a regional utility to co-develop and acquire a 100 to 150 megawatt phase of this wind development. A letter of intent plans to be finalized before the end of February 2008. A utility co-development and acquisition, commonly referred to as a "construction ready" sale of a project, adds credibility to a project, making it more attractive to other utilities. Also, it allows for substantial revenue earlier on in the process, unlike a Power Purchase Agreement with a utility.

A project sale is only one part of High Country Energy's project portfolio. Several other 100 to 150 megawatt phases will be financed under a Power Purchase Agreement with a utility, providing High Country Energy with additional long-term benefits.


Wind Option Update

Dan Hemmingsen and Missy Kelley signed on with National Wind last summer to coordinate landowner participation in the High Country Energy project. As field specialists, Dan and Missy were excited to bring local landowners into the High Country Energy project. To date,64 landowners have signed wind option agreements.

September 2007


High Country Energy, LLC is Formed and Capitalized
:


• National Wind partnered with seven local investors to form the ownership entity, High Country Energy, LLC.

• The member control agreement is complete and has been filed.

•Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) Interconnection is Filed

• In April, High Country Energy, LLC filed for MISO interconnection for an initial 300 MW's.

• Generally the interconnection process takes anywhere from 18 to 36 months.

• The system impact study has been ordered. This may require construction of an 8 mile private transmission line.

• High Country Energy, LLC has retained Excel Engineering, as its primary transmission consultant.


Initial Feasibility Studies are Complete:


• Wind Analysis: Romuld Wind Consulting, of Grand Forks, ND, completed our wind assessment. On site meteorological towers will collect ongoing wind data.


• Environmental: HDR Engineering completed an environmental review of the project and did not find any significant obstacles to permitting the project. HDR will complete all the site environmental and permitting activities upon confirmation that a utility has selected the project and negotiations for a purchase power agreement are underway.


• Transmission: Excel Engineering completed the preliminary transmission report and a schedule is in place for interconnection by 2010, subject to completion of any required network improvements.