Salt Creek is a proposed 170 MW state-of-the-art wind farm being developed by Conifer Power Company in Tama County, IA. Tama County approved the project in December 2020 after extensive review and public involvement, and it is expected to begin commercial operations in November of 2023.

Over 25 years, Salt Creek will contribute approximately $50 million in new tax revenue to benefit local schools, roads, and other taxing districts, and participating landowners will receive approximately $45 million in payments. This project will add financial stability for our host farmers and positively impact the entire Tama County community by boosting the local tax base and responsibly generating clean power for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO).

We are pleased to be working with over 170 landowners to lease a total project area distributed across more than 25,000 acres.

The wind turbines themselves occupy a relatively small percentage of the land, on average less than 1 acre per turbine including the access road, so landowners may continue to work the land between the turbines as they please.

We are unwavering in our commitment to being a good neighbor to all, including area wildlife, To this end, we have completed multiple years of pre-construction avian, raptor, and eagle surveys as well as bat habitat and presence surveys. Salt Creek is sited away from active eagle nests and suitable bat habitat, as defined by the USFWS.

Salt Creek Wind’s promise to be a good neighbor does not stop at the doors of participating landowners. That is why the project has committed to exceeding the highest quality standards to ensure any of its turbines are in full compliance with the safety and zoning regulations established by local, state, and federal government. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements state that all structures more than 200 feet tall must have aircraft warning lights. Although required, strong efforts are made to mitigate how often they are on. These requirements are consistent with those imposed on many other structures already present in our community like water or cell phone towers.

Wind turbines are designed to coexist with existing land use and minimize impacts to neighbors. Any “shadow flicker” from rotating blades, for example, is minimal, in aggregate only amounting to a few hours per year. This is taken into consideration when determining the placement of wind turbines.

Salt Creek Wind completely supports first-rate telecommunications services for our first responders in TAMA County. Emergency response is a core service and as a future customer, we are also interested in ensuring its effective operation. The placements of our turbines adhere to all local, state, and federal regulations to ensure no interference with local and private telecommunications.