December 25, 2012
Minnesota

New Era still working on wind farm details

By John Weiss | The Post-Bulletin | Dec 24, 2012 | www.postbulletin.com

ST. PAUL – A company developing a major wind farm in Goodhue County is still working on finalizing its local contracts but it will have enough profits going to local people that it will qualify for special state rates, the company’s owners has told the state.

Peter Mastic, the owner of New Era Wind Farm LLC, replied to 11 questions from the Public Utilities Commission about what effect his buying the company would have, including if it will qualify for Community-Based Energy Development status that gives more money for the power. That status requires at least the majority of profits go to state groups, while Mastic is based out of Nevada.

Those opposing the plan have called on the commission to revoke C-BED, including the Goodhue County Board that recently asked the PUC for review.

In his reply filed Monday, Mastic asks for more time to get final details about financing and basically repeats what he said before – that his buying the company that became New Era Wind Farm LLC does not change its basic structure.

“The new ownership structure has no impact on New Era’s ability to maintain its C-BED status,” Mastic wrote.

Mastic says that New Era will be able to hook up to the Midwest Independent System Operator system that controls transmission lines. Again, he says that the change “in the name of the legal entity does not affect the validity of the MISO contracts.”

He also says the company’s contract with Xcel Energy, which could buy the energy, remains intact.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/12/25/new-era-still-working-on-wind-farm-details/