Deep Rural connections

Sandhills Energy grew out of farmers and ranchers working together to foster responsible renewable energy development that benefits the local community.  We have deep roots in farming & ranching and generations-long ties to the land. That makes us personally and organizationally committed to mutually beneficial arrangements with landowners and their communities. 

Association model for wind development

Our founder helped organize Cherry County Wind, an association of more than 50 ranch families joining together for community beneficial wind development. Landowners are jointly represented, working with developers to foster responsible wind energy development that benefits the rural community. A portion of revenues are reserved for the community and other affected landowners.

Sponsored joint legal representation

Sandhills pioneered the practice of establishing a Legal Representation Fund for use by landowners in jointly selecting and retaining independent legal representation. Joint representation provides landowners with effective counsel in negotiating a mutually beneficial contract with Sandhills while affording Sandhills a streamlined process for contract negotiation. For Sandhills, responsible development is mutually beneficial development.

Landowner outreach

When we identify an area for a potential project, we  reach out to landowners with parcels of interest. We look for sites close to transmission service, not in floodplains, with acceptable terrain and without adverse wildlife impacts.  We generally also reach out to local government officials early in the development process to inform them and identify any concerns.  

Competitive Offers

Our wind leases are a great supplement to farm or ranch earnings.  Our solar lease and purchase offers greatly exceed ag land prices.

Lease and Purchase Options

We initially seek options to lease or purchase land, to be exercised if and when a contract is secured to sell electricity from the project.  Without the options or other evidence of “land control”, we are not allowed to apply for transmission rights or, in many instances, even bid to sell the electricity from a project.  

Contract Negotiation

Our team will work with you and your family and your legal representation to create an agreement that is good for both parties. We offer the same pricing to every landowner and are transparent about our contract and process.

Studies

After contracts are finalized we typically survey your land and conduct in-depth soil testing, environmental assessment, and site visits by design engineers. We first notify you and work with you to make arrangements.  In the unlikely event that your crops or property are damaged, you will be full compensated.   

Construction, operations and removal

Once a power purchase agreement is secured, our lease or purchase options are exercised and project construction starts. We will work with you to address your concerns about access routes and operation management. At the end of a lease, we remove the equipment and facilities and restore the land to its original condition.

Property Tax Relief

In most states, wind and solar farms pay large sums of local taxes.  That means a project in your area could substantially reduce property tax burdens on you and your neighbors. We pay all the property tax on the project as well as any increase in the real estate tax resulting from the changed usage of the land.  No state that we have worked in increases real estate assessments or taxes on land with a project. But if a state decides to impose such increases in the future, our contracts obligate us to pay the increase.