how to find a lawyer that deals in wind turbine farms

by Michale Heller 6 min read

Do landowners need to be consulted about wind farms?

Renewable Energy Client and Industry Challenges Concerns about energy security, handiness and costs have resulted in an increased focus on renewable and option energy sources. While consumer demand and politics incentives have provided ample opportunity for development and increase in the renewable energy sector, increased examination and regulation besides give …

What should a landowner look for in a wind energy contract?

Have you been approached about a wind turbine project? In Texas and nationwide, the attorneys at Wetsel, Carmichael, Allen, & Lederle, L.L.P., will make sure your long-term property rights are protected. Call 800-787-0784.

Should Oklahoma landowners consider wind energy contracts with wind energy companies?

Currently turbines going up are 1.5- 4.0 megawatt turbines, thus at $4,000 a 1.5 megawatt turbine would yield $6,000 for the landowner annually Acre payment Landowner will receive a payment per acre during the developmental period, typically this is $5-$7.00 per acre, these payments are for your lost opportunity costs as the landowner no longer ...

How do wind power companies decide the location of wind turbines?

Deal significance: The Bald Hills Wind Farm is a 52-turbine wind farm with an aggregate installed capacity of 106.6MW located in South Gippsland, Victoria. It has an off-take agreement with Alinta that runs to 2030. The wind farm has the capacity to meet the electricity needs of up to 62,000 average households and will make an important ...

Can you sue the wind?

Nuisance law protects owners against interference with the use and enjoyment of their property by acts occurring somewhere other than on their own property. In other words, landowners can file a nuisance lawsuit against a wind energy company even if that company never set foot on their property.

How much do farmers get paid to host wind turbines?

Each of the landowners whose fields either host turbines or who are near enough to receive a "good neighbor" payment, can earn $3,000 to $7,000 yearly for the small area – about the size of a two-car garage – each turbine takes up.Feb 16, 2020

Who owns the wind turbine farms?

NextEra EnergyIn the United States, the wind energy operator, NextEra Energy, owned 12.9 gigawatts of wind power, making it the leading wind energy operator as of 2016....Leading wind energy operators based on ownership in the United States as of 2016 (in gigawatts)CharacteristicCapacity in gigawatts--9 more rows

How many windmills can you put per acre?

How many wind turbines can be put on an acre of land? One wind turbine can require up to 80 acres of land, and each turbine will generate around 2.5 MW. Because wind turbines are spaced so far apart, surface activities like farming can still take place on much of the land.Oct 7, 2021

Does the government pay for wind turbines?

The PTC is a federal subsidy that pays wind farm owners $23 per megawatt-hour through the first ten years of a turbine's operation. The credit expired at the end of 2013, but Congress extended it so that all projects under construction by the end of 2014 are eligible.Apr 8, 2015

How much are wind turbine royalties?

Wind lease terms vary quite a bit, but general rules of thumb are: $4,000 to $8,000 per turbine, $3,000 to $4,000 per megawatt of capacity, or 2-4% of gross revenues.

How much money does a commercial wind turbine make?

Wind turbines can make between $3000–$10,000 or more per year depending on the size and kilowatt capacity of the turbine. Farmers on wind farms can maintain their own electricity production and guarantee a lower price for at least 20 years.Nov 10, 2020

Are birds killed by wind turbines?

Taking this change into account, it can be projected that approximately 681,000 birds are currently killed by wind turbines in the U.S. each year.Jan 26, 2021

Are wind farms privately owned?

Commercial wind farms are typically built by wind energy developers using private sources of financing. DOE maintains that it is important for energy project developers to engage with the local community, state and local authorities, and other stakeholders early and often in the siting and development process.

How far apart do wind turbines have to be rust?

The blades of a wind turbine should be at least 492.1 feet away from the nearest obstacle. This isn't from the nearest turbine, they should be further spaced, for reasons that we will discuss below.Jul 20, 2021

How close can a wind turbine be to a house?

Your turbine needs to be sited upwind of any buildings and trees, and it needs to be 30 feet above anything within 300 feet.

How deep is the concrete base of a wind turbine?

A typical slab foundation for a 1 MW turbine would be approximately 15 m diameter and 1.5 - 3.5 m deep.

What is the role of wind company representatives?

It is their job to create excitement for the proposed project and convey the prospective benefits of the development of wind facilities on the landowner’s land. Most presentations are genuine and professional. However, landowner’s should recognize that the person explaining the proposed agreement and what will happen during the subsequent phases of the project may not be around after the agreement is signed. In may cases, development companies put together wind projects, initiate development and then “flip” the project to another company or utility. In such a situation, the landowner will be dealing with someone new who only has the language of the lease to govern his relationship with the landowner. Thus, all negotiated points should be documented and made part of the agreement.

How much land does a wind farm need?

Despite a dismal national economy in 2009, the wind energy industry has continued to grow. Wind farms generally require 3 acres of land per turbine and a location that can be dedicated to the long-term development of tens to hundreds of turbines.

How do wind turbines affect the landscape?

Wind turbines are massive structures that significantly change the scenery. These structures require constant maintenance and work which creates a steady flow of traffic in, out and around the landowner’s property. The electricity created by the turbines must be transported to transmission lines.

Is wind energy good for Oklahoma?

Wind energy projects provide a tremendous opportunity for Oklahoma landowners. However, the implications of wind energy agreements are far reaching and should not be taken lightly. Careful consideration of the issues raised in this article as well as many other landlord/tenant and contractual matters is required to insure that promises of today survive throughout the length of the agreement.

What are the biggest setbacks?

Largest Setbacks. There are several different types of setbacks, but the most common is how far the turbine must be from houses where people live. That’s also sometimes broken down into whether the house is on land that’s been leased or is on land owned by someone not participating in the project.

Is every county free to set its own rules?

Every county is free to set its own rules, but some consensus has emerged. While not every county with wind farms has each of these restrictions, it’s generally where most have landed.

Why are wind turbines so large?

Due to wind farm sprawl and the required separation between wind turbines , wind farms tend to be extremely large.

What would happen if wind farms were built on the high seas?

Development of wind farms on the high seas would create big risks of collision with other users of the seas. There is no obligation for developers of floating wind farms on the high seas to establish safety zones or other safety measures around installations. Informal and unregulated development of wind farms could lead to collision with fishing or pleasance boats, bunkers or tankers and thus to human and environmental disasters. A regime that replicates the regime of oil platforms (establishment of a 500m-safety zone) [5] would not be enough. Wind turbines need a proper regime of safety zones as they take up a lot more space than oilrigs. There is thus an urgent need to develop a regime for safety zones on the high seas as floating installations are now a reality.

What is the principle of freedom of the high seas?

In other words, according to the principle of freedom of the high seas, exploitation of wind by States is free. This raises several concerns.

What is the principle of non-appropriation of the high seas?

According to this principle, no State may validly purport to subject any part of the high seas to its sovereignty. [2] By creating such structures, States ensure that no other States will operate in the same area and the area around, for safety concerns. One could argue that this would result in practice in a creeping appropriation of the location. Only developed countries can pretend to construct offshore wind structures so far, and that imply a “ sea-grabbing” by wealthy countries at the expense of the rest of the world.

Does the UNCLOS provide for wind energy?

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) referred to as the Constitution of the Sea does not provide for a proper regime for wind energy. This is not surprising because in 1982, when the Convention was elaborated, offshore wind farm was not yet a widely spoken subject.