(KNZA)--A representative of the proposed Pony Express Wind Farm addressed the Brown County Commission and interested residents Monday.

Nat Drucker with Chicago-based Invenergy discussed the proposed wind farm in northwestern Brown County and northeastern Nemaha County.  It would consist of 200 to 300 wind turbines, generating 800 megawatts of power.

Drucker said there are a couple of factors that make the two counties a good location for the project. “We identified Brown and Nemaha Counties as an area with great opportunity for wind development due to a very simple combination of a very strong wind source and a location close to load centers with growing demand for electricity.”

Drucker said they are currently in the project development phase, which can last 2 to 5 or more years.  He said the foundation of the phase is land acquisition, “which is working with private land owners on signing wind leases, doing environmental surveys, and beginning to work with the county on guidelines, rules for how we will design our project.”

He said they don't currently have a clear timetable when construction might begin.

Drucker says they are committed to coming to a development agreement with the county prior to finalizing any project design or beginning construction work.

He said the agreement would establish rules related to setbacks and other  operational thresholds.  Drucker said it will also include a payment in lieu of taxes or PILOT agreement that will insure the county receives income during the first 10 years of the project after which the company will pay property taxes. “Based on our initial estimates, we estimate that the project would contribute $140 million over a 30-year-project life to the counties where it is operational.”

Drucker says they are also committed to coming to a road use maintenance agreement and decommissioning agreement with the county.

He says they expect to begin negotiations with the county in late summer or fall but are open to starting sooner.

The Commission is to select an engineering firm in the next several weeks to assist the county in contract negotiations, with the cost to be paid by Invenergy.

The commission heard presentations Monday from three engineering firms.  They included Kirkham Michael, CFS engineers and B-G Consultants.