RECIPIENT: Reno County Wind Task Force, Hutchinson, Kansas
Since August of 2007 the Reno County Wind Energy Taskforce has organized
and hosted three wind energy forums, expressly to educate Reno County citizens
and landowners about wind energy.
The first forum featured Larry Flowers from NREL along with a panel of national
experts for a question and answers session; break-out sessions. Two-hundred
residents in attendance voted to move forward with further wind exploration.
The second forum featured land-owner Pete Ferrell speaking directly to
landowners about his experience with the Elk River Wind Farm. Mike Irvin with
the Kansas Farm Bureau Legal Foundation participated in a question and answer
session with landowners about what to look for in a wind or easement lease.
More than 200 landowners from the area attended this forum.
A third forum was expressly for those who owned land in Reno County Pete
Ferrell was the featured speaker. Landowners broke into township groups to
discuss in detail their questions and concerns. Nearly 200 landowners attended
the landowner update.
This volunteer organization, appointed by the Reno County Commissioners, has
made its presence known at wind meetings, economic development conferences,
with legislators, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor and national wind
experts. They have created real buzz around the state with their inclusive and
transparent process which engages the citizens of Reno County. Many other
wind working groups have been formed using the model created by the
Reno County Wind Energy Taskforce.