Winter 2017

OWNING LAND
Thinking of Housing a Wind Farm? Follow These 3 Steps
If you have been contacted by a wind developer, you’re in luck—chances are your land can make
you a dependable annual profit for the foreseeable future. Here are three main steps to take:
1 2 3
1. Review the Lease First
The first thing you will want to do is
take a look at the lease agreement and
assess the terms suggested by the
developer.
In most cases, you will have to
section off a very small segment of your
land for development and to provide
vehicle access. Be sure to look for
information about your rights to the
land after the developer is done using
it for a wind farm. The contract must
stipulate what happens to the turbines
after the lease expires.
Should any part of the contract
seem unclear, you should call your
developer for clarification. You may
also find that having a second opinion
or trusted legal counsel could turn out
to be valuable.
Remember, wind leases typically
last for multiple decades. Plan ahead
for any changes or renovations you
wish to make to your property during
that period.
2. Set Up a Meeting
Get to know your developer personally.
It’s a good idea to meet and discuss
the details of the development
partnership before the developer
sends you a contract.
Scheduling a face-to-face meeting
is the best way to set a stable
foundation for the years to come.
Remember that wind developers are
interested in keeping landowners
satisfied with their development
leases—it’s not a competition.
If the developer produces contract
terms that are not ideal, send them
back for revision. Wind developers rely
on landowners to sign leases—offering
the best deal possible is in their
interest. When the lease agreement
looks like a win/win situation for all
parties involved, it is time to sign.
3. Sign the Lease, Get Paid
Upon signing the lease, landowners
should expect some time to pass
before significant wind payments start
rolling in. Wind turbine construction is
an involved process, and it could take
up to five years or longer to finish the
entire project. Prior to construction,
developers will need to test the land,
obtain permits and approvals, connect
the municipal grid to their planned
turbine sites, and more.
Once construction is finished,
however, landowners are ready to begin
receiving a significant passive income
for the foreseeable future. Turbines last
for decades, offering a steady source
of income that is energy-efficient and
environmentally friendly. °