Community Wind - Resources
Community Wind: A Guidebook for Oklahoma
This 2007 publication from the Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative can be downloaded here.
Chapter 16: Public Policy
PDF Version
Hundreds of megawatts of community wind projects have already been installed throughout the country, but increased policy support for locally-owned projects is needed so that rural America can continue to benefit from this growing industry.
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Chapter 15: Turbine Selection and Purchase
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Chapter 14: Interconnection
Interconnection - Getting Energy to Market
The electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system has been labeled the most complex machine ever created by humans. There are many rules and regulations to ensure that it runs reliably, and as a result the process for interconnecting your energy project with this system involves dealing with regulatory agencies at the state and regional level as well as utility personnel, engineering consultants, and lawyers with experience with interconnection contracts. It can take over a year to complete the required interconnection studies and can cost your project up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. You will need to weigh the results of conversations and studies to determine if it is worth moving on to the next phase of studies or if the cost of interconnection will not allow your site to be profitable.
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Chapter 13: Power Purchase Agreement
A power purchase agreement (PPA) is a contract to buy the electricity generated by a power plant. These agreements are a critical part of planning a successful wind project because they secure a long-term stream of revenue for the project through the sale of the electricity generated by the project. Securing a good PPA is often one of the most challenging elements of wind project development.
This section covers the basics of a power purchase agreement and things to consider as you negotiate with a power purchaser. The main topics covered in this section are:
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Chapter 12: The Minnesota Flip
The Minnesota Flip business model was developed in response to a unique combination of federal incentives for wind development and state policies that encouraged development of community-owned wind projects. The structure has proven a successful model for landowners and equity investors interested in partnering in the development of wind projects. This partnership allows the equity investor to take advantage of federal tax credits, while providing local owners the economic benefits of ownership.
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Wisconsin Community Based Windpower Business Plan
A summary of this project is available as a pdf on the Focus on Energy web site.
Chapter 11: Choosing a Business Model
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Chapter 10: Tax Incentives
In order to be financially competitive, most wind projects need to take advantage of federal and, where available, state tax incentives. It is critical to understand the role and mechanics of tax incentives while developing a commercial-scale community wind project because these incentives can represent one-half to two thirds of the total revenue stream over the first 10 years of operation due to the Federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS) or other type of depreciation that can be applied to wind energy assets. You will need to consult a tax professional in the early stages of project planning to ensure that your financial projections are valid and accurately take into account the project’s tax burden and benefits.
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