![wind-turbines-at-sunset-wind-turbine-renewable-g-2023-05-23-00-43-26-utc.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/89016c_b9c31f3dc3f7430a91527d2bd1bd071e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_102,h_41,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/89016c_b9c31f3dc3f7430a91527d2bd1bd071e~mv2.jpg)
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Community Benefits
Wind farms are considered important economic drivers for the community. These types of project bring:
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Millions of dollars in additional tax revenue
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Millions of dollars in collective lease payments to participating landowners
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Hundreds of construction jobs, as well as long-term operations jobs
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Opportunities for local businesses to provide goods and services to the project
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Additional economic activity and trickle-down benefits
Bringing Economic Opportunities
Wind farms are compatible with agriculture and are fast becoming an important component of farm viability in Minnesota and beyond. They can also generate significant economic benefits for the communities that host them.
![technician-worker-people-working-on-wind-farm-2022-12-09-04-33-33-utc.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/89016c_63f5dd672eee4e5fa75aa748d00d43dc~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_740,y_0,w_4732,h_3648/fill/w_115,h_88,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/technician-worker-people-working-on-wind-farm-2022-12-09-04-33-33-utc.jpg)
Employment Opportunities
Traverse Gap Wind will create local employment opportunities, including temporary construction jobs and long-term, full-time jobs to maintain and operate the wind farm.
Landowner Payments
The project will provide millions of dollars in payments to county landowners - stable, reliable income that families can depend on.
![couple-of-farmers-checking-the-list-of-cows-2022-12-09-02-54-11-utc.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/89016c_3c1f4e187b454e71bb23b84cb48f7b74~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_374,y_0,w_5106,h_4005/fill/w_113,h_88,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/couple-of-farmers-checking-the-list-of-cows-2022-12-09-02-54-11-utc.jpg)
![close-up-of-model-of-wind-turbine-at-a-school-less-2023-04-27-03-00-33-utc.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/89016c_b56e4ee42d014b2e8b9d1dee846cdec7~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_4589,h_3587/fill/w_115,h_89,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/close-up-of-model-of-wind-turbine-at-a-school-less-2023-04-27-03-00-33-utc.jpg)
County Tax Revenue
Traverse Gap Wind will provide millions of dollars in additional revenue for the counties hosting wind turbines; money that can enhance local roads, schools and services.
Local Spending
Wind farms provide indirect income to local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, caterers and other companies.
![young-woman-oing-purchases-at-local-farmers-market-2023-07-18-17-14-48-utc.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/89016c_6b5c2ee891634a66a3bc59b1a03550d1~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_406,y_0,w_4701,h_3648/fill/w_113,h_87,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/young-woman-oing-purchases-at-local-farmers-market-2023-07-18-17-14-48-utc.jpg)
Phases of a Wind Farm
![boy-playing-with-toy-wind-turbine-outdoors-2022-01-18-23-53-33-utc.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/89016c_186c459f8a2d4a2b8047781b01303217~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_1224,w_4912,h_4912/fill/w_121,h_121,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/boy-playing-with-toy-wind-turbine-outdoors-2022-01-18-23-53-33-utc.jpg)
Development
4 - 7 years
Acquire land leases,
file interconnection
request, perform engineering and environmental studies, obtain necessary permits, secure power customer — currently in this phase.
![wind-turbine-maintenance-engineer-at-wind-farm-con-2023-03-17-22-59-21-utc.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/89016c_df1b1867460e4d41b4cc8187b1966a38~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_1000,y_0,w_4000,h_4000/fill/w_121,h_121,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/wind-turbine-maintenance-engineer-at-wind-farm-con-2023-03-17-22-59-21-utc.jpg)
Construction
1 year
Hire contractors,
install wind turbines, connect to the transmission system
![wind-farm-and-field-2022-12-15-21-24-29-utc.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/89016c_e878a50adb1c428aad97c3896d042d93~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_1541,y_0,w_3109,h_3100/fill/w_121,h_121,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/wind-farm-and-field-2022-12-15-21-24-29-utc.jpg)
Operation
30+ years
Maintain wind farm
with on-site
operations team
![wind-farm-with-sunrise-2021-08-26-16-01-40-utc.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/89016c_4059cfb4a54f4c1083c22793cdcf27d6~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_850,y_0,w_3399,h_3399/fill/w_121,h_121,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/wind-farm-with-sunrise-2021-08-26-16-01-40-utc.jpg)
Decommissioning
Remove turbines,
restore land for
further use