About The Project
Current Efforts
Invenergy began developing the Pony Express Wind Energy Center in 2018. Current efforts are focused on reaching out to landowners about participating in the project and conducting necessary wildlife surveys and other studies in order to ensure the project is in the most appropriate and responsible location.
Invenergy hosted four open houses in Brown and Nemaha Counties to engage with potential project participants and any interested members of the public.
Economic Benefits
The Pony Express Wind Energy Center expects to pay millions of
dollars in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs), property taxes, lease
payments to landowners, wages to employees, and payments for local goods
and services. Local schools and county infrastructure will benefit from
the increase in revenue from PILOTs and property taxes paid by the
project.
Why Kansas?
Kansas is a national and world leader in wind power generation. 41% of the electricity in Kansas is generated by wind - which represents the second highest percentage of wind power generation of any state. Kansas also ranks 4th in the nation for total installed wind generation capacity. Kansans' electricity bills have remained well below the national average due to this abundance of wind energy.
Wind Benefits Kansas
- Total Investment: The wind industry has invested over $11.4 billion in Kansas
- Annual Landowner Payments: Wind farms in Kansas pay landowners over $36 million every year
- Wind Industry Employment: The wind industry employs more than 5,000 people in Kansas
- Wind Manufacturing Facilities: Four Kansas manufacturing facilities make products used in wind farms, from blades and towers to the raw components, like fiberglass and steel
Why Nemaha & Brown Counties?
Invenergy develops projects where there is a strong resource, the ability to connect to existing transmission infrastructure to deliver the power to the grid, interested customers, and most importantly, landowners who want to participate in the project. Invenergy is committed to our host communities and looks forward to continuing to work closely with Nemaha and Brown Counties, contributing to the area's economic development, and providing clean, homegrown energy in Kansas. Invenergy is committed to entering into agreements with both Brown and Nemaha Counties that will provide a framework for wind development, including regulations on setbacks.
Environmental Benefits
Invenergy works with state and federal agencies and other interested stakeholders to site, build, and operate our facilities responsibly by acting in accordance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Land-based Wind Energy Guidelines. In addition, the energy produced from the Pony Express Wind Project will offset emissions over the life of the project, contributing to cleaner air and water resources and improved public health. When operational, turbines harvest the abundant wind resource while using extremely little water and create zero-emission energy.
Impact on County Roads
Invenergy will work with Brown and Nemaha Counties to establish a road use agreement for the Pony Express Wind Energy Center, ensuring all county roads and infrastructure will be well-maintained during construction and left in the same or better condition than they were prior to their use for the construction of the project.
Land
Wind turbines and access roads have a very small footprint. Approximately 98-99% of land under easement will remain in agricultural use, allowing wind energy to support the agricultural industry and landowners to continue to farm their land.
Decommisioning
Invenergy will negotiate a decommissioning plan with Brown and Nemaha Counties to regulate the decommissioning or re-power at the end of the project’s useful life. The plan will guarantee that the associated costs will never be borne by the landowners or the counties.