For An Investment-Minded Buyer the Whistle of the Wind Can Mean Big Dollars!
A blog by Kimberly Lowry, Broker Associate, Licensed in MT
Over the past few years there has been a growing emphasis on taking environmentally friendly measures as individuals, a society, and a nation. Without having a crystal ball, if one could predict the future for the production of energy to meet the growing demand, it is safe to say with an emphasis on new wind farms including this cutting edge technology, wind energy will likely play a large role.
Wind energy is produced through the harness of a natural occurring resource, the wind, and produces a stream of income for a savvy investment-minded owner at the same time. Oftentimes the installation of wind turbines does not replace existing income on a farm or ranch but rather augments it with a new income stream while creating energy for the masses. Fay Ranches currently has two adjacent dryland wheat farms for sale that include wind turbines that are a part of the larger Glacier Wind Farm operation. Glacier Wind Farm, along with several others across the state, have attracted attention for the use of cutting edge technology to produce enough energy to supply large metropolitan areas in other regions. Currently the clean energy produced in Montana is purchased and used by customers spanning as far away as California!
The two farms available for sale through Fay Ranches, H & J Quarters Farm and North Marias Farm, combined feature a total of 36 wind turbines that are part of the 210-megawatt Glacier Wind Farm Phase I and II. The two phases include a total of 140—1.5 megawatt Acciona turbines. When combined with the nearby Rim Rock Wind Farm, there are 266 wind towers in the region producing over 399 megawatts of electricity. These wind farm projects are part of a larger network that is part of the Montana Alberta Tie-Line, affectionately called MATL. Since 1MW can power over 1,000 homes and the population in the hi-line region of Montana where the farms are located would not use all of the available resources, the power is transferred to regions with greater demand. The MATL line is unique as it extends for 214 miles from Great Falls, Montana, to Alberta and ties the renewable source of emission-free energy together for customers across North America.
According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the growth of wind energy across the nation has steadily climbed over the past 20 years. In addition to creating a clean energy source, it also powers well over 100,000 jobs nationwide! Plus, with in excess of $11 Billion of private funds invested in wind energy in 2017 alone and an increasing emphasis on environmentally friendly practices, it is likely that emphasis on wind energy will continue to grow in the future.
The wind turbines and projects extending along the MATL are the vision and under the stewardship and management of NaturEner USA and NaturEner Canada. Want to learn more about how wind towers work? There are some great resources available. Plus, additional property-specific info on the wind tower leases, income history, and projected income into the future is on file with the Listing Broker and Fay Ranches Inc. and can be provided to pre-qualified buyers for consideration and review.
Connect with Kimberly Lowry
Kimberly Lowry began her real estate career over twenty years ago by marketing luxury, recreational, resort, and ranch properties. Spending several years marketing properties before obtaining her real estate license helped her build a foundation that has allowed her to develop a career as one of the most successful female farm and ranch real estate Brokers in Montana. As a Broker at Fay Ranches Inc., Kimberly applies her years of experience while working with buyers and sellers of some of the finest luxury properties, working ranches, farms, and recreational properties throughout much of the State of Montana.
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