Wind Energy Development on School Trust Lands
Getting Started
Wind development begins with placing at least one anemometer on the site to be developed. While wind power maps can give people a general idea of wind availability on a particular site, it's critical to have at least a year of actual anemometer data to truly judge the practicality of developing a site.
Wind developers can get a land use license (LUL) to place an anemometer on state land. A LUL is an agreement stipulating land use for an exact and specified purpose. Unlike a lease, there is no public bidding for a LUL, which is simply issued from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. There is an administrative fee of $25, and annual rates for the LUL vary depending on use.
When a good wind site has been identified and wind data collected, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation can release a public request for proposals (RFP) looking for wind developers to come forward and offer proposals for wind power development.
Here is a sample wind RFP.
The wind RFP is broken up into three phases. The successful applicant is chosen in phase 1. In phase 2 and 3, all the other elements of the proposal are brought together before the lease is negotiated and signed. These elements include things like an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, power purchase agreement, and economic ability and feasibility.
People interested in leasing state land for wind power development can contact Mike Sullivan at 406.444.6660.
