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Wind farms generating change in northwest Missouri
KING CITY, Mo. (AP)--The state's first commercial wind power project is generating more than electricity here. The expanse of wind turbines--rising 300 feet from the ground with spinning blades as long as a football field--is drawing tax dollars and tourists as well. The Bluegrass Ridge farm is the first commercial wind project to open in Missouri. While it is part of a broader effort to produce renewable energy and cut down on air pollution, the windfarm is also producing material benefits for this rural town that once relied on grain and cattle for much of its income. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Sunday that the 9,000-acre Bluegrass Ridge farm is slated to pay more than $500,000 in property taxes next year to Gentry County, the largest share of which will go to the King City school district. The site also drawing visitors who are helping boost the economy. "It's just breathed new life into this town," said John McKinnon, a local farmer. "It used to be people didn't know where King City was on the map, but now they associate it with the wind farm." Last week, a dedication ceremony drew more than 500 people--a little less than half of King City's population. There are even plans to build a visitors center not far from the city's biggest draw--the 25-foot tall replica of an electric gasoline pump that once beckoned motorists to "Buy Gas Now." The so-called "Big Pump" was always King City's main roadside attraction, perhaps rivaling only Branson's giant ball of twine or Independence's hair museum. The company behind the King City wind farm is St. Louis-based Wind Capital Group, which plans to open two more wind farms in neighboring Atchison and Nodaway counties early next year. Wind Capital is targeting that area because it's the only place in the state that has enough wind to run the 25-ton turbines. The wind farm could produce about 57 megawatt hours of energy enough electricity to power 34,000 homes. Some towns have resisted wind farms, citing their obstruction of the horizon, their noise and the fact that they kill birds. But investors have bet on a warm welcome for wind power in this corner of the state--and not just because of the added income. "Another part that may be more difficult to quantify is just the enthusiasm that exists for this project. You just can't put a dollar figure on it, but people are really proud of the farm," said Tom Carnahan, the president of Wind Capital and son of the late Gov. Mel Carnahan Over the next 20 years, the wind power generated by Bluegrass Ridge will be purchased by the Associated Electric Co-op Inc., of Kansas City and sold to customers in Missouri, Iowa and Oklahoma. The co-op will also buy energy from Wind Capital's two other wind farms, already under construction in the northwest corner of Missouri. King City's economic gain from the wind farm started early. During construction, the influx of workers was evident: there was a line of trucks waiting to park at the town's general store, the local hardware store couldn't keep merchandise on the shelves and tables were full at restaurants. Brenda Spiking, owner of the Aberdeen Steak House, says customers began arriving in droves last year. "I'm not sure we would have been able to open had it not been for the wind farm," she said. "It was really good timing." 10/1/07
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