National Wind

National Wind LLC
Private
Industry Wind energy
Founded 2003 (2003)
Headquarters Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Website nationalwind.com

National Wind, LLC, A Trishe Group of Company, 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.[1]

Community-based model

National Wind operates under a community-based business model. 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 traditional 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.[2]

Projects

National Wind develops and manages wind farms that produce, at minimum, 50 megawatts of renewable energy. 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.

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.[10]

Competition

The demand for sustainable energy 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, Minnesota’s largest newspaper, the Star Tribune, featured National Wind on the cover of the business section.[11] National Wind has also been featured in Twin Cities Business,[12] 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.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Wind Power Project Models". National Wind, LLC. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  2. ↑ Houghton, Dean (February 2008). "Community Property" (PDF). The Furrow. National Wind, LLC. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  3. ↑ http://www.eqb.state.mn.us/project.html?Id=19789 Northstar Wind transmission line
  4. ↑ "National Wind Expands on Two Fronts". Renewable Energy World. 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  5. ↑ "Landowner joins advisory board of High Country Energy". North American Windpower. 2007-11-15. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  6. ↑ "South Dakota community-owned wind project proposed". North American Windpower. 2008-01-21. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  7. ↑ Optimism for wind energy plan
  8. ↑ Goodhue Wind To Develop 78-MW Community Wind Project
  9. ↑ Little Rock Wind To Develop Utility-Scale, Community Wind Farms
  10. ↑ "About us". National Wind Assessment. Archived from the original on 2008-07-12. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  11. ↑ Lee, Thomas (2008-02-22). "Rural wind power shifts direction". Star Tribune (Minneapolis). Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  12. ↑ Howard, Fran (June 2007). "Rising wind" (PDF). Twin Cities Business. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  13. ↑ Garber, Kent (2008-07-28). "Congress Blows Hot and Cold Over Tax Breaks for Wind Energy". US News and World Report. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
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