Midwest Wind Energy cares deeply about the development of the Midwest and remains committed to the communities in which our wind farms are built. So it's important to us that landowners and the public have access to all the best wind farm resources. With so much potential for boosting local economies, increasing the tax base and providing farmers with a second source of income, we encourage you to explore our development process.

Our Process

Wind farm development is a time intensive endeavor. Each step of every project presents a new and unique logistical challenge requiring innovation and problem solving. In order for clients and customers to better understand our process for developing wind farms, we separated it into 12 steps.

12 Steps to Building a Wind Farm:

  • 1 - Site Identification: After consulting topographic maps, wind maps and leads from landowners, we identify potential wind farm sites.
  • 2 - Cooperation Agreements: To secure the development rights to these tracts of land, we work to reach cooperation agreements with landowners.
  • 3 - Wind Assessment: As the most critical step in the process, yearlong wind assessments determine definitively whether the selected sites can support wind farms. Anemometers measure wind speed and automatically email us daily updates.
  • 4 - Zoning: During the wind assessment period, we work with local planning boards to get zoning approval.
  • 5 - FAA Approval: A thorough assessment of surrounding air space is conducted and the sites' proximity to airports is measured-ensuring air traffic is not disturbed.
  • 6 - Avian Assessment: MWE is committed to preserving bird and bat populations. Our sites undergo thorough ornithology studies to ensure migratory routes stay safe.
  • 7 - Engineering: Engineers develop turbine layout plans that optimize the available wind resources. Landowners provide final approval on the site plans.
  • 8 - Lease Finalization: Once the projects are construction-ready, we finalize our lease terms with landowners.
  • 9 - Power Purchase Agreement: MWE negotiates long-term offtake agreements with utility companies.
  • 10 - Interconnection Agreement: Commission transmission impact studies are conducted while interconnection agreements with transmission line owners are negotiated.
  • 11 - Construction: Construction generally takes 9 to 12 months, during which time landowners are fully compensated for crop loss.
  • 12 - Operation: Turbines begin turning and the generation of clean renewable power begins!