The development of wind energy in northwest Iowa will expand again with the formation of Red Rock Wind Energy, LLC of Estherville, a community-owned wind farm development company. Red Rock Wind Energy, with their project manager National Wind of Minneapolis, Minn., plans to develop up to 300 megawatts (MW) of wind energy in Emmet and Dickinson counties in Iowa.

They plan to get the wind farm built within the next three to five years, producing enough electricity to power up to 90,000 homes. Many of the investors in Red Rock, including National Wind, are also developing NorthStar Wind Farm, a 200 MW community wind project adjacent to Red Rock Wind Energy in Emmet and Dickinson counties. NorthStar Wind Farm is to begin construction in late 2009.

Red Rock Wind Energy has formed a management board that consists of the following local founders: Alan Blum, Stacy Olson, Deb Olson and Richard Bockman. Blum, a local Estherville business owner for 30 years and chairman of the Red Rock board, says, "We've learned a tremendous amount by developing the NorthStar Wind Farm and look forward to bringing that experience to Red Rock Wind Energy. We can help landowners in Emmet and Dickinson county understand what's involved in having a turbine on their property."

Leasing land from farmers and other owners

Already, the project's site control specialists have leased over one third of the acres needed for the project's construction. National Wind Assessments, the wind analysis division of National Wind, has also installed a meteorological tower in Emmet County to collect wind data in the area for a minimum of one year, helping create an accurate picture of the wind resource in the area. Meteorological tower data from the NorthStar Wind Farm will also be used.

To learn more about Red Rock Wind Energy, contact Blum at 712-362-7272. Visit www.redrockwind.com for company information.

What is National Wind LLC?

National Wind is a leading firm that develops utility-scale (50 megawatts or larger) community wind energy projects. National Wind is developing 12 large wind energy developments, representing 3,658 megawatts. It also has an additional 1,500 megawatts in advanced feasibility stages. National Wind's projects are located in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Colorado, and the company is exploring expansion opportunities in other states. Visit www.nationalwind.com for more information.

Red Rock Wind Energy, LLC is a community-owned wind company in Emmet and Dickinson counties in northwest Iowa. The company intends to develop and produce 300 megawatts of community-owned wind energy projects that are sustainable and environmentally responsible, says Erin Edholm, director of communications for National Wind, project manager for Red Rock Wind Energy.