Fairfield Wind Farm Project Moves Toward Completion

With the one year extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) energy producers Foundation Windpower and WINData will be able to benefit from the law. Perhaps the last project to be started in Montana under the 1992 federal PTC program, Fairfield Wind initially looked to complete its wind farm project by the summer of 2014. However, additional tax credits are now available so that the project can be extended.

Three influential factors in determining a site for a wind farm are primary environmental concerns: wind and weather patterns, the distance to existing transmission power lines and minimizing the biological and habitat impacts. These factors heavily influenced the commissioning of the Fairfield project. Teton County Commissioner Joe Dellwo said, “It’s a no-brainer for us because it’s going to increase the tax base.”

Completion of the project will result in an estimated 19 million kilowatts of renewable energy annually for the area.