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For three days last week Hardwick and Rock County were center stage for a Geronimo Energy promotional video.
“We are putting together stories about what it is like living in a community with renewable energy,” said Lindsay Smith, Geronimo Energy director of marketing and communications.
Smith and a three-person film crew also plans to complete stories about the Courtenay, North Dakota, Wind Farm and the community solar projects in Stearns County, Minnesota.
The local Prairie Rose Wind Farm consists of 119 wind turbines operating in northwest and north central Rock County. Townships include Springwater, Rose Dell and Denver.
A maintenance shop is located in Hardwick.
Geronimo Energy is a renewable energy development company headquartered in Minneapolis.
It established the Prairie Rose Wind Farm that began generating electricity in late 2013.
The farm was later sold and is now operated by Enel Green Power of North America.
The three days of filming included interviews with local officials.
Hardwick City Clerk Tammy Johnson, who watched the wind farm develop over the past several years, was one of those interviewed.
“Once we educated ourselves on the environmental benefits of wind energy, I believe most of us are proud to be a part of it,” she said.
“I get a lot of calls from people who may be in the footprint of the second phase wondering when it is going to happen.”
Geronimo Energy officials recently updated Rock County commissioners about Phase 2 of the Prairie Rose Wind Farm — about 100 additional turbines that straddle the Rock and Pipestone county line.
The estimated $160 million project won’t begin until 2021 or after.
$800,000-plus generated locally in annual tax
Prairie Rose is one of three wind farms operating in Rock County.
Community Renewables operates four turbines in Martin Township.
Rock County Energy operates seven turbines in Beaver Creek Township.
All three pay annual taxes based on production.
The trio contributed $825,431 in 2018 to the budgets of Rock County and the townships where the turbines are located.
In the past five years, more than $4.25 million has been divided 80 percent to the county and 20 percent split among the townships where the turbines were located.
The county uses its portion to repay almost $5 million in capital improvements bonds.
“When we knew we were going to receive the tax, we accelerated our five-year road plan,” said Commissioner Stan Williamson, who was also interviewed for the promotional video. “Instead of adding to the levy, we pay for the bonds through the production tax.”
In 2014 the commissioners secured a $3.9 million bond for road improvements.
In 2015 a $1 million bond helped complete the countywide high-speed broadband project.
After the yearly bond payments, the rest of the tax money is set aside to purchase highway department equipment.
In the past five years, over $850,000 in production tax money was divided among the townships with Denver Township receiving the most ($365,726) during that timeframe.
“It’s really a blessing,” said Denver Township Supervisor Kyle Hemme.
Since receiving the production tax, Denver Township officials have built an adequate budget reserve, invested in township roads and kept the township tax levy flat at $50,000.
More long-range plans are being developed.
“We have to be responsible and make improvements in the community,” he said.
Community fund available to those in farm’s footprint
The community fund is available to the communities located or operating within the wind farm’s footprint.
Annually the local committee decides among written applications how the $40,000 is distributed. This year’s recipients will be announced later this summer.
The committee disbursed $145,000 since the fund was established.
Cities of Hardwick and Jasper received the largest amounts since the fund was started.
Hardwick received more than $65,000 for fire department equipment and for the community hall remodel project.
Jasper received more than $69,000 for new fire department turnout gear and a new park shelter.
Other recipients included Rock County Sheriff’s Department, Hardwick Community Club, Rock County Historical Society and five student scholarships.
Denver Township is currently partnering with the city of Hardwick to purchase a new chassis for the fire department’s tanker truck.
The city of Hardwick received $30,000 from the Prairie Rose Minnesota Community Fund for a used chassis for the tanker, but the sale fell through.
Denver Township, however, agreed to help buy a new chassis estimated at $70,000.
“We are agreeing to pick up the rest of the tab,” Hemme said.