By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Enel Green Power North America has begun operating its $380 million White Cloud wind project in Nodaway County, Missouri.
Enel signed a power purchase agreement with Springfield-based Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., which plans to wholesale electricity to several utilities, including United Electric, which provides power for most of rural Nodaway County.
White Cloud is Enel Green Power’s second project in Missouri. The company also operates the 300-megawatt Rock Creek wind farm in Atchison County, which started operation in 2017.
Located about five miles south of Maryville, the White Cloud Wind Farm will be able to generate 950 gigawatt hours annually - enough to power more than 86,000 homes. It's also expected to create over $43 million in property tax revenue and over $56 million in lease payments for local landowners.
Matt Saville, the assistant site supervisor for the project, says the benefits for Nodaway County communities will span over the 25-plus year life of the project.
"The property tax revenue will go toward schools, roads and public services," Saville said. "As for other revenue, you're going to see about $56 million in lease payments to the project's landowners over the project's lifetime."
The project was also responsible for over 300 construction jobs and created around 12 permanent, full-time operations positions.
A native of northwest Missouri, Saville is excited to see the wind farm's direct impact on the local area.
"I'm a local and I'm just really glad to be a part of Enel," he said, "and to see the benefit to the communities and to be a part of the outreach for the communities to get answers.
"So, if they ever need anything, our office is going to be right there in Maryville, and I'll be handing out (business) cards. All of the landowners will be able to come in and ask the questions that they want. I'm always happy to educate anyone on wind energy."
Enel refurbished the former ShopKo building in downtown Tarkio to use as the White Cloud and Rock Creek operations and maintenance building. Enel also provided support to re-establish Tarkio Technical Institute and launch a wind technician education program.
Enel also announced over $1.3 million in contributions to COVID-19 relief across the US and Canada. In northwest Missouri, their contributions included $50,000 to Community Hospital-Fairfax, $5,000 to the Nodaway County Senior Citizens Center and $25,000 to volunteer fire districts in Polk, Skidmore, Graham and Barnard.
Enel Green Power North America has a presence in 18 U.S. states and one Canadian province. The company operates over 70 plants with a managed capacity of over six gigawatts powered by renewable wind, hydropower, geothermal and solar energy.
