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Pratt, Kan. —
Richard Jarboe, representative for Indeck, discussed the economic impact of wind energy in Kansas and more specifically in Pratt County, with County Commissioners during their regular session Monday, July 16.
Jarboe presented commissioners with a document prepared by Wildcat LLC, discussing the economic impact of Kansas wind farms. The document stated the following:
•Wind energy is a bright spot in a struggling economy. Wind farms represent new sources of economic development all over Kansas, and communities across the state are already benefiting from wind energy.
•Rural communities often see the greatest benefit from wind development in the form of landowner payments, property taxes and locally sourced components and labor. Wind developers also often rely heavily on local sources for concrete, sand, rebar, aggregate and other construction supplies.
•According to an analysis by the Renewable Energy from the state university, the first 1,100 megawatts of wind capacity in Kansas will generate a total economic benefit of $1.5 billion, over the life of the projects.
•Supports local economics by generating $5 million in annual property taxes.
•Generates $4.36 million annually in extra income for Kansas’s landowners who lease their land to wind farm developers.
•Created approximately 6,019 full-time equivalent jobs during construction periods with a total payroll of over $300 million.
•Supports approximately 292 permanent jobs in rural Kansas’s areas with a total annual payroll of over $15 million.
According to the Wildcat LLC report, the economic impact of construction jobs in Pratt County would be 570 jobs worth $21 million (65 direct impact jobs - $4 million, 370 indirect impact jobs - $13 million, and 135 induced impact jobs - $4 million).
According to the computations, there would be 24 operational jobs in the county worth $1 million (6 direct impact jobs - $400,000 a year, 11 indirect impact jobs - $400,000 a year, and 7 induced impact jobs - $200,000 a year).
The footprint of the project would cover approximately 10,700 acres; contain 68 GE (American made) wind turbines, which could produce approximately 100 megawatts for a power purchase agreement.
In other matters, commissioners:
•Were informed by Pratt County Road and Bridge Supervisor Randy Phillippe, one of the landowners (Gary Woodard), offering right-of-way for the Cairo Road extension, is backing out.
•Were told road crews are still laying asphalt, but should be done within a couple weeks.
•Learned there was approximately 40,000 cubic yards of dirt near Cairo that can be used to fill swampy areas.
•Were introduced to the new Pratt County Undersheriff, Bufford Johnson.
•Met with department heads and Steve LaPrad to further reduce budget to maintain mill levy. Cut an additional $95,000 out of the proposed 2012 budget.
Richard Jarboe, representative for Indeck, discussed the economic impact of wind energy in Kansas and more specifically in Pratt County, with County Commissioners during their regular session Monday, July 16.
Jarboe presented commissioners with a document prepared by Wildcat LLC, discussing the economic impact of Kansas wind farms. The document stated the following:
•Wind energy is a bright spot in a struggling economy. Wind farms represent new sources of economic development all over Kansas, and communities across the state are already benefiting from wind energy.
•Rural communities often see the greatest benefit from wind development in the form of landowner payments, property taxes and locally sourced components and labor. Wind developers also often rely heavily on local sources for concrete, sand, rebar, aggregate and other construction supplies.
•According to an analysis by the Renewable Energy from the state university, the first 1,100 megawatts of wind capacity in Kansas will generate a total economic benefit of $1.5 billion, over the life of the projects.
•Supports local economics by generating $5 million in annual property taxes.
•Generates $4.36 million annually in extra income for Kansas’s landowners who lease their land to wind farm developers.
•Created approximately 6,019 full-time equivalent jobs during construction periods with a total payroll of over $300 million.
•Supports approximately 292 permanent jobs in rural Kansas’s areas with a total annual payroll of over $15 million.
According to the Wildcat LLC report, the economic impact of construction jobs in Pratt County would be 570 jobs worth $21 million (65 direct impact jobs - $4 million, 370 indirect impact jobs - $13 million, and 135 induced impact jobs - $4 million).
According to the computations, there would be 24 operational jobs in the county worth $1 million (6 direct impact jobs - $400,000 a year, 11 indirect impact jobs - $400,000 a year, and 7 induced impact jobs - $200,000 a year).
The footprint of the project would cover approximately 10,700 acres; contain 68 GE (American made) wind turbines, which could produce approximately 100 megawatts for a power purchase agreement.
In other matters, commissioners:
•Were informed by Pratt County Road and Bridge Supervisor Randy Phillippe, one of the landowners (Gary Woodard), offering right-of-way for the Cairo Road extension, is backing out.
•Were told road crews are still laying asphalt, but should be done within a couple weeks.
•Learned there was approximately 40,000 cubic yards of dirt near Cairo that can be used to fill swampy areas.
•Were introduced to the new Pratt County Undersheriff, Bufford Johnson.
•Met with department heads and Steve LaPrad to further reduce budget to maintain mill levy. Cut an additional $95,000 out of the proposed 2012 budget.
•Received a financial report from Pratt Regional Medical Center (PRMC) Susan Page and Hilary Dolbee. The report indicated the hospital was operating way ahead of last year at this time and according to Dolbee, finances are such that the hospital can easily meet proposed bond issue obligations. Page said, “The key to our success are our physicians - we have really been blessed”.
•Discussed the dissolution of the Pratt County Veteran’s Memorial Lake Committee with Bill Hlavachick.
•Met with Richard Jarboe and the Pilot’s Coalition jointly.
•Discussed a private sewer line from Pratt County Veteran’s Memorial Lake and Kansas Fish and Game Headquarters, to the city of Pratt’s Sewage Treatment Plant.
•Agreed to a meeting between the city of Pratt and Pratt County to discuss the possibility of the Pratt County Sheriff, also being the Pratt City Police Chief.
