Griggs/Steele        Wind Development Group LLC Home

Local Efforts                        last updated - 7/15/04

     Way back when the G/S group was formed in the fall of 1999, we immediately secured funding to erect 4 monitoring towers geographically spread over our 2 county area. Two were NRG, 40 meter towers, and we utilized 2 existing communication towers that were available in strategic locations. The funding for this effort was made available through the ND Div. of Community Services. Since then, 3 other monitoring systems have been added to bring the total monitoring efforts in our two county area to 7. Much of this information will be available elsewhere on this site.

     As one of the first organized groups in ND, we were encouraged to apply for a DOE Grant to help determine the economic impacts of wind power projects, and the hurdles and barriers to implementing a project. We hired Larry Leistritz of NDSU to do the economic impact study. He participated in national conferences hosted by DOE to insure that the regionally sponsored impact studies were written in similar formats so as to be compatible and comparable from region to region. The ND Div. of Community Services also participated in the grant award, and served as the local administrator of the funds. The impact study was presented at the 3rd annual Wind Conference sponsored by Senator Dorgan, at Grand Forks in Feb. of 2002. That study is also available on this site.

     Another significant effort was the purchase of a software package that will allow us to site projects and do "what if" type analysis on the electrical output that could be expected on any proposed project. The topographical maps, monitoring data, and other information is entered into the package, we are then able to get useful information on potential sites, configuration of towers, and expected production output.

      This commercial level software is a significant planning tool for us as we continue to pursue projects, both large and small. It is a tool that will allow us to compare prospective wind development scenarios to see that they are based on good science and in a manner that allows for long range expansion. We are in the wind development race along with everyone else, but we are also very interested in creating the most efficient, esthetic, and expandable system within our region that current technology will allow.

     Any significant development (large MW) of wind powered energy is dependant on the solution to transmission issues. Plopping five turbines on a singular hill might get a small effort done now, but we are interested in knowing how that plays in a bigger scheme of things down the road. Even in a long distance foot race, it isn't necessarily the person who can run the fastest that wins. It is usually the person with the best strategy during the race that has the most left for the final kick that takes the ribbon.

     Transmission is without a doubt our most limiting factor in the development of wind powered energy in ND. We have been active in the formation of WIND to address issues of state-wide significance. At the same time we continue to explore any and all avenues to do those more local upgrades that can get smaller projects built in the mean time. The solutions to getting large wind power development in the upper mid-west will require partners on the Federal, State and local levels. We are currently, and will continue to pursue any and all avenues we are aware of, to assist anyone in the further development of wind powered energy in North Dakota.

     In our brief  history, we are indebted to DOE and the North Dakota Division of Community Services for their financial assistance in our efforts. Without their assistance there would be nothing to write on this page.