Plans move forward for Ithaca-area wind farm

ENFIELD — Pipestone, Minn.–based Juhl Wind, Inc. signed a development services agreement with Black Oak Wind Farm, LLC near Ithaca for a proposed 15 to 30 megawatt facility set to open during the third quarter of 2013.

Juhl Wind will serve as the development partner for the project.

“We are very excited to be expanding our development services outside of the Midwest region,” Corey Juhl, vice president of project development for Juhl Wind, said in a release. “The Black Oak Wind Farm is made up of a group of highly motivated individuals who are looking to bring the Ithaca area its first utility scale community wind project, and we are honored to have been selected to assist them in doing so.”

“The Black Oak Wind Farm represents a new wrinkle in our development strategy here at Juhl,” Juhl President John Mitola said. “With the current transmission uncertainty in the Midwest, we are actively looking to diversify our development portfolio by adding projects throughout North America and in regions that generally experience higher electric rates.”

Black Oak also teamed up with Val-Add Service Corp., a South Dakota project-management company that recently helped coordinate a 10.5 megawatt wind project in South Dakota.

“We are very pleased to be working with such experienced partners as Juhl Wind and Val-Add Service,” Black Oak President Peter Bardaglio said. “Not only do they understand the importance of this project being financially successful but also how to make sure we contribute to the well-being of the local economy.”

Juhl Wind (www.juhlwind.com) has completed 21 wind farms and provides operations management and oversight across its portfolio. The company services every aspect of wind-farm development from full development and ownership, general consultation, construction management, and system operations and maintenance.

Val-Add (www.val-addservice.com) has assisted in the development of more than 20 agricultural plants in eight states and has worked on diverse projects including ethanol and biodiesel production, soybean crushing, and beef processing. Val-Add has helped develop over $1.5 billion in new value-added agricultural ventures.

Black Oak Wind Farm (www.blackoakwind.com) purchased the development rights for the wind project earlier this month from Enfield Energy, which began development in 2006. According to its website, the group selected the site in Enfield because it is the windiest place in Tompkins County and already has a high-voltage transmission line crossing the site, making grid tie-in feasible.

Contact DeLore at tgregory@cnybj.com