Date: 9/2/2015

Source: M. Clements, National Association of Farm Broadcasters

Audio with Shelby, Montana Mayor Larry Bonderud (MP3 2.86 MB). Download Windows Media Player. Time: 00:03:08.

An initiative to bring wind energy to rural Montana has brought a positive economic impact to the region. Larry Bonderud is the mayor of Shelby, Montana. Bonderud says a joint effort led the way to bring wind energy into his area.

"We made a conscious effort to seek wind development in our area, and we laid out a joint strategy with the Toole County commissioners to position ourselves to make it very easy for wind companies to make a decision to locate in our area. It started out with our understanding of research and understanding how important the grid is to wind energy and understanding that the market for wind energy is really not Montana, it's California."

The efforts led to a transmission line to carry wind energy from Montana to wind energy customers. He explains what that has done for the rural economy.

"We have a lot of Shelby kids that went and got trained and now have very good-paying jobs that are working on that wind farm and we have new people move to our community that are associated with the wind farm. The city does not receive any of the tax base from the wind farms, only the county does, but there's been a benefit on that tax side by another large taxpayer in the county which in the long haul will serve to keep those levies down. We have consolidated law enforcement, we've consolidated fire departments with the county, so support for those entities, which we also help pay for, was broadened dramatically. So all in all, a real positive impact county and area wide."

He says the community was sold on wind energy from day one.

"We felt that the solution to a lot of America's energy need is innovation, broadening the portfolio, we still need hydro, coal, and we need wind. And so understanding the portfolio that Montana can bring to the table is very beneficial. Our port authority also benefited in a great way because the components for these wind farms were railed from all over the world."

Looking toward the future, Bonderud hopes for continued expansion of the wind industry in his area.

"Our master plan is a corridor of wind that stretches along the Class 1 wind areas between Great Falls and Shelby. As these power costs increase nationwide, wind power becomes more competitive in the general marketplace and doesn't need the federal subsidies that seem to be the triggering point for building them and also seem to be current detriment now as to why future wind farms are not developing at the pace they were."

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.