Brisk Business
By Robert Barron
Enid News & Eagle
Wind energy proponents say people are learning more about how wind energy can benefit the economy, and that’s helping them convince landowners to lease property for wind turbines.
Wind energy companies are finding support and cooperation in the Garfield County area, said Chad Horton, with Colorado-based Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Americas, a wind development company founded in 1982.
“We’re overcoming concerns that people have had through an educational and informational programs. There is a large amount that must go on to effectively communicate and get people comfortable with what wind energy is about,” he said.
Given the large area and number of landowners in the county, it has taken what seems to be a long time for some residents to embrace the technology, but it is all part of the process of Horton’s business.
The prognosis for wind energy in the Garfield County area is brisk, according to officials. There will be multiple projects, and the timing will depend on utility companies’ needs for wind power.
“That’s what drives wind projects, utilities with an appetite for wind power generation,” Horton said.
He considers the ideology of the new presidential administration and the likelihood of a national renewable portfolio standard will create increased demand.
That will be good for business, he said.
RES is a fully integrated company that not only develops projects but builds them.
“We develop and do everything in-house,” Horton said. “We’re very happy with the way things are going with the demand, whether it is us developing or ... building for other companies, we think we are in a good place,” he said.
RES has four full-time people working in Garfield, Noble and Grant counties. In its Austin, Texas, office there are another four to 10 people working on projects.
Through wind energy, electricity is produced through turbine power. Wind turns the turbines, which fires a generator inside the turbines’ towers. Electricity generated is fed into a 34.5 KV line collector system and then to a substation. From there, it travels to an electrical grid system or is fed directly into a transmission line, Horton said.