Giant turbines churning out windfall for tiny town
Posted on Saturday, November 3, 2007
KING CITY, Mo. — There’s no shortage of tour buses in the tiny farming community.
They come from Kansas City, St. Joseph and Iowa.
They’re there to see the Bluegrass Ridge Farm, the first commercial wind farm in Missouri. It’s enormous, a commanding and surreal presence that changed the landscape of the northwest Missouri town.
With its 27 massive turbines spread over 6, 000 acres of farmland, it’s already the face of the community despite being formally dedicated in September. The turbines peak at 262 feet and are visible from miles away.
Moreover, the wind farm is pumping life — tax revenue, tourism dollars and civic pride — into King City, about 80 miles north of Kansas City, Mo.
“It sure is a novelty, seeing those big ol’ windmills out there turning,” Mayor Jim Gillespie said. “We’ve embraced it.” The first turbines started turning in March. The city and county now are expecting an influx of cash they haven’t seen in decades. The windfall is expected to provide an economic lift to the struggling school district and help the town improve infrastructure and emergency services.
According to the National Research Council, wind farms could generate up to 7 percent of the nation’s electricity within 15 years. The growth began in 1980, when the first wind farm was built in New Hampshire. Now they’re operating in 36 states.
Three are up and running in Kansas, and there could be 10 or more by the end of 2008.
“Wind energy is by far the most efficient and cost-effective renewable energy out there,” said Tom Carnahan of St. Louis, son of the late Gov. Mel Carnahan and president of Wind Capital Group, which developed the King City wind farm. “Because of that, I think we can expect it to continue to grow.” That’s especially true in light of recent decisions like the one in Kansas, where the state’s top regulator cited carbon emissions in rejecting a coal-powered electricity plant. There are no such emissions at wind farms, eliminating concerns about their potential contributions to global warming.
While the increasing popularity of wind farms stems primarily from those environmental benefits, the economic advantages are plentiful.
A small farming community that struggled through the 1980 s, King City is not much different from other small towns in America: dusty roads, a couple of flashing lights, one grocery store. The city has fought hard to keep its population at about 1, 000 residents.
“We here in this small community are just hanging on,” said Dexall Swan, 66, a lifelong resident of King City. “Any little bit helps.” Next year, more than $ 300, 000 in new property tax revenue will roll into Gentry County. According to County Commissioner Gary Carlson, some of that money might go to road and infrastructure improvements. Some could go to the fire and ambulance districts.
About $ 200, 000 will go to the King City School District, which endured 9 percent budget and personnel cuts a few years ago.
Carnahan said construction could begin next year on another wind farm just south of King City, this one at least twice as big. That will bring yet another influx of money and some jobs.
There also will be more revenue circulating through town because the wind turbines are on private property. Each owner gets $ 3, 000 a year per turbine, according to landowner David Waltemath.
“All the farmers that have these on their property now get added spending money,” he said. “And when you spend money, it goes through many hands.” Local businesses are benefiting, too.
That was the case when the turbines were being erected, when hundreds of workers were eating meals, buying gas and renting apartments in and around King City for eight or nine months.
Now, the increased traffic comes from curious onlookers.
So, how do the wind turbines work ?
Once winds hit speeds of about 10 mph, they start to turn the three blades. Those blades, each of which is 140 feet long, spin a shaft. That shaft is connected to a generator and creates electricity.
The turbines are controlled by computer at a station in King City, where operators can shut them down by moving them slightly away from the wind. The farm, located on multiple contiguous parcels of land, could produce enough electricity to power 34, 000 homes.
As the turbines’ massive blades cut through the wind, it sounds a bit like a rumbling jet passing overhead. It’s way more than Charlie Porter bargained for.
Porter, who owns 20 acres in King City, has no turbines on his property but several near his home. Those turbines, he said, “have ruined our lives.” “If you don’t live underneath one of them and you drive down the highway, they look kind of neat,” Porter said. “But for us, it’s been a nightmare. They’ve ruined the equity in our home. The noise keeps us up at night. The shadows invade our home.” Other concerns about wind farms include disruption to the land, visual blight and the risk they pose to birds.
But to Mark McCallon of King City, the biggest question he and his wife, Amanda, initially had was, “How is this going to benefit our city ?” The McCallons, who have three sons between 4 and 9, aren’t asking anymore.
“There are small towns all over the place where there’s not much going on,” Mark McCallon said. “They’re kind of dying, you know ?
“ This gives us something special.”
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