Sterling will be the site of one of several town hall meetings by the Governor’s Small Business Advisory Council being held throughout the state. Information from the meetings will be shared with the Governor’s Office.

The Sterling “Solution Session” will be held at Northeastern Junior College (NJC), Hays Student Center Room 230, from 9:30-11:30 a.m., on Thurs., Aug. 26. (RSVP to 970-352-3661 before Aug. 23.)

The town hall meeting is part of a series of meetings hosted by the Colorado Small Business Development Network.

“We are encouraging business owners, city and county officials, financial institutions and economic development to provide their experiences and ideas on how to develop solutions for barriers to success for small business owners,” said Heidi Zajic Eckland, Sterling Small Business Counselor.

Eckland works in the Sterling office for the Northeast-East Central Colorado Small Business Development Center, a resource center for small businesses in the northeast quadrant of the state. Free business assistance and information are available to all small businesses, whether existing or new.

Currently, Eckland serves the Sterling area community as a business counselor one day per week and additional resources are available if necessary. According to Eckland, “The program’s mission is to foster successful start-up of new businesses as well as growth and development of new and existing businesses through services provided.”

The services provided are to help small businesses maximize their potential through three areas of focus: Free business counseling, education through seminars and webinars and assistance in obtaining capital. Support available to business owners includes: Access to small business resources and information through the state and national Small Business Development Center network; staff experience in starting, running and growing small business; staff experience in counseling small businesses in a variety of industries and stages of business; and strong support for clients and SBDC activities from local governments and private institutions.

The purpose of the town hall meeting next week is to brainstorm on solutions of barriers to success for small businesses owners. “Some of the barriers that many business owners are experiencing are due to the current financial and legislative climate,” Eckland said. “Revenues are down and access to capital is very difficult.” She said the solutions to look at may include workforce readiness and “How the SBDC can help in these and other areas for both new and existing businesses.” She can be reached at 520-7357.

The Logan County Economic Development Corporation is experiencing of bit of growth itself, prompting an office move and the need for additional staff. The organization is currently in the process of moving into a new office at 213 Main St. Executive Director Rich O’Connell expects his office to be set up by next week. In the meantime, O’Connell will be working between offices until the move is complete. O’Connell’s office was located in a donated space at Sterling City Hall in Centennial Square. O’Connell said the LCEDC has outgrown its space at City Hall since establishing there in 2004.

“We’re moving because we need some part-time help and we didn’t have room in our current office for an assistant,” he noted. The position opening will be posted in the next week or so, O’Connell said. The center will be looking for an economic development assistant with good organization, Internet and presentation skills. The position is expected to be part-time – 20 hours a week – to start.

“We’re growing,” O’Connell said. “The contacts and business that have been developed are requiring more attention than I can handle on my own now.” O’Connell added, “We have a lot of focus on downtown and we think it’s appropriate to be located down there. We’ll be near the (Logan County) Courthouse and the new Colorado State University (CSU) Engagement Center and we’ll be more accessible.”

The phone number (521-7196) will remain the same, but O’Connell said he expects a new Email address. “We will miss being in City Hall and we are very thankful for thatspace for the last six years,” O’Connell noted. “We had a good working relationship with the staff over there, but we are excited to grow into a larger space.”

The LCEDC is a not-for-profit corporation whose activities involving the promotion of Logan County are strongly endorsed by both public and private entities. There are 12 members of the board of directors representing various business sectors and communities and includes two City of Sterling City Council members and one Logan County Commissioner.

Additionally, an advisory board of 20 individuals who represent private business in Logan County also provides oversight and advice to LCEDC.

The LCEDC Board believes in balancing the expansion of existing businesses with growth from new businesses. The LCEDC has been involved in the Project Green/Logan County Industrial Park project which was recently revealed as Star Clean Oil. A development agreement was signed by the Logan County Commissioners on May 19. Star Clean Oil is planning to construct and operate an oil recycling facility on 50 acres of the new Logan County Industrial Park with an expected ground breaking in early 2011. The LCEDC will proceed with planning for a Public Improvement District (PID), applying for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and hiring an engineering firm to plan the infrastructure improvements.

The LCEDC is one of the endorsing sponsors of a Redevelopment and Revitalization Regional Workshop held in Sterling this morning (Wednesday), presented by the Colorado Brownfields Foundation and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or perceived presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these infill sites reduces sprawl pressure, reuses rather than extends infrastructure, enables upgrading of buildings to green-build standards and allows for higher density development.

Redevelopment of brownfield sites stimulates investment in local economies and directly combats
blighting conditions. Brownfield sites offer reuse opportunities for both public and private investment. Colorado Brownfields Foundation (CBF) provides services to promote the cleanup and reuse of environmentally impaired sites and facilitate in-fill development. CBF seeks to create public benefits
that may include creating business-ready sites, stimulating investment in the local economy, directly combating community deterioration and/or preserving green space.

The workshop was geared to planners, investors, attorneys, brokers, bankers, students, community members, property owners, real estate professionals, environmental consultants, government officials/staff and developers.

May 2010

The following summary provides a highlight of the various monthly activities for the Logan County Economic Development Corporation (“LCEDC”). All activities are not described in the summary, but rather some of the more visual activities of the LCEDC are presented.

General Meetings:

May 1- Rich O’Connell presented at the Wells Fargo Smart Money Financial Workshop.

May 5- I spoke at Rotary to describe the new Buxton CommunityID report, Dec. 2009.

May 6- As an Advisory Council member, I attended the SIFE competition presentation at NJC.

May 7-20- The negotiating team met daily to finalize the Development Agreement with Project Green. The Agreement was signed by the Board of Logan County Commissioners on May 19th. The prospect is now identified as Star Clean Oil, LLC.

May 13- The Joint Committee held its regular monthly meeting.

May 13- Jim Neblett and I met with several investors in the Star Clean Oil project.

May 17- I attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Blue Spruce dormitory NJC.

May 18- The negotiating team met in Denver to finalize the above-described Development Agreement.

May 20- I met with a businessman looking to acquire an existing business in Sterling.

May 23-26- A group of four board members attended the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) convention in Las Vegas.

May 23-26- A group of three board members attended the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) convention in Dallas.

Economic developments:

Project Green/ Logan County Industrial Park- The Logan County Commissioners signed the Development Agreement with Star Clean Oil, LLC, on May 19th. Although we are still required to maintain confidentiality on the details of this project, we can discuss the public information. Star Clean Oil is planning to construct and operate an oil recycling facility on 50 acres of the new Logan County Industrial Park. Because of the lengthy process acquiring the land, they have decided to delay breaking ground until early 2011. We will proceed with planning for a Public Improvement District (PID), applying for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and hiring an engineering firm to plan the infrastructure improvements.

Rich O’Connell, along with Dan Long (LCEDC President), Loretta Davidson (Treasurer) and Sandy Glaser (Secretary), attended the ICSC conference in Las Vegas, NV. We have identified several retailers who have indicated a strong interest in re-locating new stores in Sterling, and we discussed their future plans. Another contact was the co-owner of the pad site located in front of Home Depot on West Main. Buxton Co. made meeting space available to us during the conference, and we were able to make new contacts as we visited the various retail and real estate broker display booths.

Jim Neblett, along with Lance Bolton and Leroy Whipkey, attended the AWEA conference in Dallas, TX. This wind energy conference is growing every year, and our group was able to meet with multiple companies who are interested in Logan County wind development. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) sponsored a booth for the first time this year, and our group spent time there meeting with potential prospects. Our effort is to attract supply chain companies that will provide service and parts for the wind farms.

LCEDC has revised their committee structure and all LCEDC members and non-members are encouraged to pick a committee that is working in an area of economic development that interests them, and join our efforts to improve the economic climate in Logan County. The Committees and chairs for the working committees open for new participants are as follows:

• Asset Resources- Dan Long 526-8021
• Workforce Development- Sandy Glaser 522-5900
• Marketing and Communications- Rocky Joy 522-9010
• Targeted Prospect Development- Rob Nichols 522-9756
• Strategic Planning and Implementation- Lance Bolton 521-6607

Updates:

UPDATE 4/29/10: The City and its representatives have signed all the grant documents and delivered to the FAA for final approval of the airport runway extension. Bids are scheduled to go out soon thereafter and construction could start by mid-summer. There is an anticipated 90 days construction period, so the improvements should be completed this year. The FAA has approved a new GPS instrument approach and applications are in process to add this improvement. UPDATE 5/28/10: Bid openings for both the runway extension and apron improvements are scheduled for June 10th.

UPDATE (4/25/10): We have received final plan drawings from Bruce Glass, The Architects Group, for three different-sized buildings. We are ready to proceed on the next steps of: 1) approval by City and County building inspectors, and 2) sending the approved plans out for bid to several contractors. NO PROGRESS TO REPORT.

UPDATE (4/30/10): Colorado Highlands Wind, LLC, project north of Fleming continues as a viable project and the developers are working hard to finalize power purchase agreements (PPAs) and transmission issues. NO PROGRESS TO REPORT

UPDATE (4/30/10): East Cheyenne Underground Gas Storage is planning to begin construction and development of the gas storage facility this summer. NO PROGRESS TO REPORT.

UPDATE (4/30/10): BP Alternative Energy, LLC, has announced plans to construct an estimated 120 to 200 additional wind turbines and a 230KV transmission line at their Cedar Creek wind farm near Grover in Weld County. With the existing 267 turbines, this could double the total wind energy to 600MW, or enough to supply 190,000 homes. UPDATE 5/28/10: It was reported at AWEA that permits were approved for this project by Weld County.

The Logan County Commissioners were expected to green light “Project Green” this morning to close a lengthy process in securing an anchor tenant for the new Logan County Industrial Park. After a series of special meetings and executive sessions since Friday, Logan County Planner Jim Neblett said last night “Our negotiating team has spent all day negotiating the final agreement and has completed the task.” Prior to an executive session Tuesday afternoon, Neblett told the Logan County Commissioners “Your requests have been met and all matters have been negotiated.” After reviewing the negotiated document – a development agreement – in the closed-door session the commissioners set a meeting for this morning to formally consider a resolution approving the development agreement.

“Project Green” has been identified as Star Clean Oil LLC according to the resolution, however, the Logan County principal players are bound by a non-disclosure directive from releasing further information about the company/project. Listed in the 2010 “proposed developments” by the Logan County Economic Development Corporation, Project Green” was included as an industrial manufacturer which would provide 50 above-average paying jobs. Neblett said the company will occupy 50 acres in the newly zoned industrial park located east of Sterling on Highway 6.

Star Clean Oil recycles motor oil as a “green” industry.“ Through the efforts of the Board of County Commissioners, the Logan County Economic Development Corporation and others, we will have a great new industry to come to the community as an anchor for our industrial park to provide solid, good paying jobs,” Neblett said. “We’re looking forward to the ground-breaking.” If everything continues as planned, Neblett said construction could start in he spring of 2011, contingent on the company’s funding. Neblett also noted that development agreements are standard for subdivisions, individual industries and commercial property. He said a development agreement is a ovenant attached to the land to ensure a transfer of ownership maintains the same purpose.

The Logan County Industrial Park was recently finalized through an exchange agreement for 100 acres of land from the Colorado Board of Land Commissioners. With the sale of 50 acres to Star Clean Oil, the company will invest their capital to build their plant and rail access.

Commissioner Jim Edwards, who is out-of-town on vacation, joined Chairman Debbie Zwirn and Commissioner Jack McLavey via an Internet video conference system during Tuesday’s discussion and the board was scheduled to again meet this morning (Wednesday) to finalize contracts with the company.

In other County business, the Logan County Planning Commission reviewed three subdivision exemptions and made recommendations for approval of each which included an application by Kenneth Roelle to exempt a 9.88 acre tract from a 320 acre parcel located on the west side of County Road 32 near County Road 78 for the installation of a natural gas line connection and meter site for the East Cheyenne Gas Storage Facility, an application by Loren Johnson and Heidi Johnson to exempt a 5 acre tract from a 112 acre parcel located at 18269 Highway 6, and an application by Matt Johnson to exempt a 10 acre tract from a 160 acre parcel located at 10814 C.R. 63. All three applications for subdivision exemption will be forwarded for formal consideration of the Logan County Commissioners Tuesday.

STERLING — Business was the theme at the Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday.

Dick Pickett, executive director of the Northeast-East Central Colorado Small Business Development Center, and Rich O’Connell, executive director of the Logan County Economic Development Corporation, spoke about small business and economic development.

“Out of all the communities that we service Sterling has been one of the warmest in receiving the Small Business Development Center,” Pickett said.

His center covers the area from the Wyoming border, down to I-70 and over to Kansas.

The SBDC has three focuses.

“All those areas of focus go to trying to maximize — we try to help the small businessman maximize their potential as a small business, doing everything they can possibly do to get as much revenue as they can coming into their business,” Pickett said.

One area of focus is to provide free business counseling to small businesses. Any small business can come in for counseling. Pickett said most of their clients right now have 20 or less employees.

During that process, they usually encourage small businesses to develop a business plan if they don’t have one. Pickett said about 90 percent of the people who come see them don’t have one when they come, but 90 percent of their clients that leave them do have one.

Heidi Zajic-Eckland is the local small business counselor for the Sterling area. When she first started, the plan was to have her provide counseling two days a month. After a couple of weeks, they had to increase that to one day a week.

“Depending on how that goes, we’ll just see how much more we do,” Pickett said.

Their second focus is education. They provide education through a number of seminars they put on. Also, this year they’re trying to use technology so they have one webinar that runs a couple times a month. They’re also going to try to do at least one broadcast this year, with a speaker in one location and that will be broadcast live to the locations in the area.

The third focus is to try to try to help small businesses get funding.

“We try to put the strategy together that will help them be successful with their financial request,” Pickett said. “It’s challenging today, we’re not always successful, but the small businesses that we’ve been able to help have been very appreciative and we have helped a number of them.”

O’Connell spoke about the newest study of the Sterling area’s retail site done by Buxton Corp. The study is effective December 2009, so it looks at the 12 months prior to December 2009.

“This was not the best economic climate for measuring your retail site assessment, however, it was down slightly, but nearly the same amount of dollars spent by households in our region during this time frame,” he said. “Overall, as far as compared with the state and the nation, we did fairly well.”

The process that Buxton uses is called community ID and it is a proprietary process that tries to measure the psychographics as defined as the propensity to consume of the households that are existing within the market area.

“Different households consume different products and services, they try to measure what our retail site, what types of households live there,” O’Connell said.

Sterling’s retail site is 10th Avenue and West Main Street, that is considered this area’s market center.

One of the study looks at is general demographics. For those demographics they don’t just look at the limits of the city of Sterling, but the 15 minute drive time around Sterling. O’Connell said that population estimate is 18,809.

Also, the study gives a measurement of the total buying power, the measurable dollars spent by households in the secondary market area.

The study also shows a leakage analysis, something Buxton introduced this year. They measure what type of leakage or anti-leakage the Sterling area is experiencing on major trade areas.

“We are attracting more people, more dollars in and the leakage surplus is a surplus of $8,872,000, so we are actually drawing dollars that would be expected to be sent elsewhere into our area,” O’Connell said. “Which tells us that our retailers are doing a credible job of drawing people in. When people come in, they buy things and that’s good news.”

Some of the things he said the study showed are that many people are buying clothing outside of the community. Expenditures of women’s clothing is higher, men’s clothing is practically nonexistent and not too many children’s clothing item are purchased here either.

However, the jewelry stores are doing pretty well; they’re above expectations.

O’Connell said the study also showed people in this area buy a lot diapers and a lot of Nascar products.

This study is important for retailers. Community leaders, including O’Connell, with be using this study when they go to the International Council of Shopping Centers, in Las Vegas, May 23-27.

“The retailers are looking at very closely what kind of households are here, what types of products do they buy, what kind of income do they have to spend on those products, all that goes into their calculation,” O’Connell said. “What we want to do is make this available to retailers to make decisions based on what kind of products they can carry.”

One of the goals of the LCEDC is to get this information out in a format that’s easy to access. They haven’t devised a plan to do that yet though.

However, anyone who is interested in learning more about this data can contact O’Connell at 521-7196. Also, if you’re a member of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce you can get a disk with information on it.

“What we’re trying to do here is make a successful match, our community and our retail site assessment, with a retailer or business that wants to be in that type of community,” O’Connell said.

STERLING — Thursday evening, the Logan County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) held its annual meeting.

This meeting reported on the financial health of the organization, achievements and goals, and election of new board members.

One of the first reports was by Mike Lauer on the fiscal condition of the organization.

“Financially, we did have a good year,” Lauer said.

Lauer added that financial stability is not the sole purpose of the LCEDC. The mission statement of the organization says that the “Logan County Economic Development Corporation is to provide leadership and assistance to Gary Nichols, left, and Sterling Mayor Larry Fetzer share a few thoughts during the Logan County Economic Development Corporation meeting Thursday. (Forrest Hershberger/Journal-Advocate)all Logan County communities in their efforts to grow, while improving their economic stability and diversity.”

LCEDC President Rob Nichols noted that the economic condition of Sterling and Logan County, while better off than many other regions in the state and nation, are still feeling the impact of the recession. The city of Sterling reported that taxable sales decreased slight through Dec. 2009 from $195,587,000 to $190,126,300, a loss of 2.8 percent. Retail sales in Logan County through Oct. 31, 2009 were at $394,408,000 to compared to $450,860,000 during the same period in 2008. for a loss of 12.5 percent.
The Colorado Department of Revenue retail sales data shows 2009 retail sales estimated at $530,654,000 for all of Logan County, down almost $50 million from 2008.

Nichols posed the question many business owners and community leaders are trying to answer: “Are we in a downturn, is the economy climbing out of it, or are things getting worse?” The question is easier than the answer, according to Nichols. He said it is too early, and too difficult, to predict the economic trend. What he did say is that businesses need to stay forward-thinking Sterling City Manager Joe Kiolbasa, left, and Logan County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kim Sellers discuss business during a meet and greet at the Logan County Economic Development Corp. meeting Thursday. (Forrest Hershberger/Journal-Advocate)in order to survive the economy.

“We think that when there a downturn, it is hard to pick up, but when (the economy) turns around, (the companies who stayed in business) are the ones who succeed,” Nichols said.

He said finding ways to conduct business in more efficient methods during a downturn economy can benefit the company who continues those practices when the healthy economy returns.

LCEDC Director Rich O’Connell reported on several advancements in business for 2009. NextEra Energy Resources completed another 81 wind turbines, each producing 175 megawatts (MW) of electricity for a total of 608 MW of energy. An additional 197 towers have been permitted, so more work is expected in 2010/2011, O’Connell said.

OREG-4, a joint energy recovery project of Highline Electric, Omart, Kinder Morgan and Tri-State, began operations in June. The project generates 3.2 MW of energy from the Trailblazer pipleline, according to O’Connell’s report.

O’Connell also reported that LCEDC assisted nine new or expanded businesses, representing $480 million in new capital investments and 26 new full-time jobs. ARRA Stimulus funding in amounted to $650,000 for workforce and job creation, $431,000 for weatherization/low income and $1.4 million for public schools.

There are some business ventures the LCEDC is pursuing. One of the projects is “Project Green.” Project Green, while not fully identified, is expected to be in the new industrial park LCEDC is working with Logan County to design.

“The process (of Project Green) has been going on for about 18 months,” O’Connell said.

The plans are for the company to begin construction at the new industrial park this year.

“It is an environmentally friendly business,” he said. He said the company is expected to start with 50 positions of above-average pay.

The industrial park is a 100-acre site about 2 1/2 miles east of Sterling off of U.S. Highway 6. The LCEDC is also working on agreement that will provide rail service to the industrial park as well.

Other developments expected to occur this year are:
• Opening of the David Walsh Cancer Center at Sterling Regional MedCenter in August,
• Construction of a new dorm at Northeastern Junior College,
• Extension of the runway at the Sterling Municipal Airport
• And, construction of a new water treatment facility in Sterling.

Steve Meter announced the LCEDC membership needed to elect three new board members Thursday. He said the membership needed to select three members from six candidates. The candidates were: Lance Bolton, Persiphone James, Brad Lebsock, Dan long, David McClain and Alex Wright. The membership selected Lance Bolton and Dan Long each to serve a second three-year term, and Alex Wright to serve his first term on the board.

County appears to have a bumper crop of wind and will soon be home to a second “farm” to harvest that energy.

Representatives from Colorado Highlands Wind of Littleton and Environ International Corp. of Denver held a public meeting Tuesday night to provide an overview of a new wind farm currently being proposed for three miles northeast of Fleming.

According to Bruce Pohlman, managing member of Colorado Highlands Wind, “We’re here to present information about the project and update the land owners who previously signed agreements for options on the land. But also to convey information as part of the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process.”

The project involves the development of a 90-megawatt wind generating facility, comprised of 60 wind turbines, in a six-square-mile area in eastern Logan County. The project will include an interconnection to the federal power grid, via the Western Area Power Administration’s electrical transmission system.

NEPA requires the consideration of environmental impacts of a proposed project – federal, sate or local – that involves federal funding or work performed by the federal government.

John Imse, a principal with Environ, said the environmental evaluation reviews the impacts of wildlife, habitat and cultural resources.

“We want to make sure the project is not damaging any of those,” Imse said. “We have done most of the surveys and we will also be doing some longer-term monitoring. Our surveyors have walked most every inch of the project area.”

The surveyors have encountered no federal endangered species during the field investigations and no critical habitats have been discovered within the project area.

The 4,500-acre project site is the first wind farm development for Colorado Highlands Wind. Pohlman said the project will have a significant financial impact to Logan County.

“There will be 8 to 10 permanent jobs, plus probably 150 construction jobs next year,” he said.

Sales and use tax should be well over $1 million, Pohlman said, and it’s estimated that approximately $5 million will be generated in annual property tax revenue to the county.

A conditional use permit for the project will come before the Logan County Planning Commission in November. Construction is slated to begin next spring, starting with roads and foundations planned for March-June.

Delivery of the first wind turbine generators should begin in April with erection planned for May-July. The company estimates start up of the turbines beginning in August with commercial operation ready by December.

Pohlman said the company is still in negotiations for the sale of the power to be generated. “There are lots of options,” he said.

The project proposes a 6-mile overhead transmission line along County Roads 85 and 87 and a switch yard south of Highway 6 at County Road 87.

A public meeting focusing on the potential of a new wind farm near Fleming has been set for Tues., Sept. 30, from 6-9 p.m., in an open house format at Northeastern Junior College in the Tennant Art Gallery.

Colorado Highlands Wind, LLC is proposing to build a 90 Megawatt wind generating facility to increase Colorado’s inventory of renewable energy resources. The project, Colorado Highlands Wind, will be comprised of 60 wind turbines, each capable of generating 1.5 Megawatts of renewable energy. The project will cover approximately 6 square miles and will be located on private lands leased from individual owners. The proposed location for the project is approximately 3 miles northeast of the Town of Fleming in eastern Logan County, Colorado.

Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power marketing agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, is preparing an Environmental Assessment for this renewable energy project. Western is proposing to approve an interconnection request from Colorado Highlands Wind, LLC to connect to Western’s electrical transmission system. The Environmental Assessment, completed in consultation with State and Federal Agencies, will evaluate the effects of the project on the natural and human environment. The results of the studies will assist Western in its response to the interconnection request, in planning for new substations and related facilities required for the interconnection, and in identifying potential mitigation measures for the proposed project.

Representatives of Western and the Colorado Highlands Wind project team will be available at the meeting to provide an overview of the project, answer questions and receive comments concerning the proposal.

The Peetz area “wind farm” is slated to jump into phase three of construction which will nearly double the amount of electricity already being generated at the site.

Scheduled for consideration by the Logan County Planning Commission next month is an amended conditional use permit application that will increase both the number of turbines in the northeast portion of the county and the amount of wind power that will be generated. A public hearing will be held Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Logan County Courthouse.

Florida Power and Light (FPL) Energy is expanding its project in two stages by PWEC, llc, and Northern Colorado Wind Energy, llc, east of Peetz. The PWEC stage will include up to 100 wind turbines to generate approximately 150 megawatts of wind power and the Northern Colorado Wind stage will include up to 118 wind turbines for 175 megawatts of power.

The facilities in each of the two conditional use permit renewal areas will also include pad mount transformers, buried and overhead cable, substation, private gravel roads, meteorological towers, operations and maintenance facilities, related equipment and structures, rights-of-way, temporary batch plant and transmission line.

For phase three, current turbines technology available include either 1.5 megawatt generators with 80′ blades or 2.3 megawatt generators with 90′ blades. The technology type will determine the number and locations of turbines installed, up to 218, based on the topography and feasibility of transporting the turbine blades.

The current $700 million FPL wind center project represents the second largest wind facility in the country consisting of 267 turbines that generate 400 megawatts of electricity, sufficient to power 120,000 homes. Xcel Energy in Denver will buy 100% of the electricity under a long term contract.

In addition to the 267 permitted towers for FPL, there are currently an additional 32 towers built by EnXco and 40 towers built and in operation by Invenergy, bringing the current total of existing towers to 339 operating. The potential for the additional 218 towers for phase three of the FPL project, plus an additional 88 towers for Ridge Crest (EnXco), could bring the total build-out to 645 towers that would nearly span the width of Logan County along the Nebraska border.

“There has not been a group of projects of this magnitude in our community over it’s entire history,” said Logan County Planner Jim Neblett.

For phase one and two, Logan County received a one-time $4.16 million payment which included building permit fees and use taxes from FPL Energy. Construction of the first two phases of the wind center employed an estimated 300-350 temporary employees with 20 full time jobs upon completion.

The completed phase one and two project has an assessed valuation of $190 million. The county has received $4,788 in building permit fees and $10,789 in material taxes for each of the 267 towers.

Neblett credits the current wind projects with increasing the retail sales in Logan County since construction began in 2005. That’s when retail sales in the entire county jumped 17%. In 2006, sales increased 21% and then again 27% last year.

Prior to the beginning of construction, retail sales fell 1% between 2002 and 2003 and only increased 1% between 2003 and 2004.

With phase three about to begin, Neblett said, “There’s going to be a lot of construction going on next year too.”

In addition to the Peetz area project, another wind developer is planning a new wind farm north of Fleming, along the Fleming ridge. Neblett said the county hasn’t received a conditional use permit application for the project yet, but preliminary plans called for 60 turbines.

A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for Thurs., Sept. 4 at Sterling High School for the project which will include an update to the delivery line for the Western Area Power Administration power grid. The process is necessary, Neblett said, as the project involves a federal power corridor.