<b>By LINDA McGURK<br>
Indiana Correspondent</b> </p><p>

BROOKSTON, Ind. — Until fairly recently, wind farms were largely a California phenomenon.</p><p>
But falling costs of producing wind power, improved technology and a fast-growing interest in renewable energy sources are giving the nation’s wind power capacity a considerable boost – even in Indiana, a state that only has moderate wind power capacity compared to some of the Great Plains states.</p><p>
Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy is the latest wind developer to prepare for business in the Hoosier state, after receiving the results from four meteorological test towers that were installed across White County last April.</p><p>
“The results have been very favorable and the data is strong enough that we’re going to move forward with the project,” said Martin Culik, project manager with Horizon.</p><p>
Horizon’s proposed Meadow Lake Wind Farm will produce approximately 400 megawatts and span 40,000 acres in White County. So far, the company has secured leases for approximately half the land and is still in negotiations with landowners for the remainder.</p><p>
“Government officials, landowners and the community have all had a very enthusiastic response and we’ve been happy to work with them. Everything has been coming together really nicely,” Culik said.</p><p>
After finishing the land lease agreements, Horizon will apply for a building permit, but Culik did not disclose a preliminary start date for construction. He said Horizon is currently negotiating with utilities that are interested in buying the power generated by the wind farm, but the details have yet to be made public.</p><p>
Connie Neininger, White County economic development director, said Horizon’s investment will create jobs and help support community schools and libraries.</p><p>
“I think Horizon seems to be a good, community-minded company,” she said. “But what’s even more important is that we’re starting to move towards renewable energy.</p><p>
“Wind energy is one of the cleanest energy sources there is and (Horizon’s wind farm) ties in closely with the BioTown initiative.”
Initially, landowners in White County were courted by four different wind developers seeking wind rights. Bob Leader, a local grain farmer, led a group of about 50 landowners who decided to negotiate together to increase their leverage and avoid “checkerboarding” the area. Two of the companies dropped out of the picture almost right away, but Leader said the remaining two contenders kept upping the ante.</p><p>
“It was beneficial (to work as a group) because we got the two companies to compete with each other and we got better contracts,” he said.</p><p>
Prior to signing the contracts, Leader, a commercial pilot, flew a group of landowners to Iowa, where they studied some older wind farm developments. They found most of the locals had a positive attitude toward the wind farms, even though they yield far less money than what’s offered by wind developers today.</p><p>
“It’s amazing how much the contracts have improved the past couple of years,” Leader said. “The landowners in Iowa don’t get much money for (the wind rights), but they were happy they were able to do something for the environment.”</p><p>
And the benefits of a wind farm don’t stop there, according to Leader. “If you believe in farmland preservation versus housing developments, there’s nothing better to preserve the land than a wind farm … A turbine only takes up one-third of an acre, and it’s not that hard to farm around,” he said.