Wind Power

On my recent trip to Houston , I picked up a copy of the Houston Press.  What caught my attention was the cover of magazine with an artists rendering of T.Boone Pickens in front of several wind turbines.  More and more companies are jumping on to the alternative energy bandwagon as it relates to promoting their "green initiatives".  However, to break into the pursuit of wind energy will require time, persistence and capital.  The time and determination needed can come from our industry.  The capital can be federally subsidized if approached correctly.  Our properties can benefit and generate some additional revenue from these resources.

T.Boone Pickens, an oil tycoon that lives in the panhandle of Texas is single-handedly financing a national energy policy.  He is working building a wind farm across 200,000 acres in Texas that will provide landowners a two-pronged revenue source.  Who would have thought that an oil tycoon would get into the wind business.  He is a businessman after all and he realizes there is significant money to be made by pursuing these alternatives.  Land owners can lease their land for the right to place a wind turbine.  As the wind farm begins producing power, the landowner will receive royalty payments as power is generated and distributed to the market. This is very similar to the transaction that is made between and landowner and an oil and gas company that want the resources below the ground.  The benefits of these new alternative energy sources are well documented.  

The problem we all face is convincing our political leaders that focusing on energy sources closer to home must be a priority.  Regardless of your political affiliation, putting more money in the pockets of real estate owners is a good thing.  While open wind farms are the wave of the future, those in commercial real estate must also take action on pursuing these alternatives. Many companies would be excited to enter buildings powered by energy alternatives.  The public relations benefits would be extreme.  Most commercial properties are in areas where wind is prevalent and the potential to transfer that wind into energy is a possibility.   The revenue potential is available and can make a major direct impact to your bottom line.