Family-Owned Wind Farm Recognized for Earth Day

USDA Rural Development helps Wolf family make wind farm a reality

RUSHMORE, Minn., April 24 – Curtis Anderson, Deputy Administrator of the Rural Utilities programs for USDA Rural Development and Steve Wenzel, USDA Rural Development Minnesota State Director, recognized the Wolf family wind farm near Rushmore, Minn., in a special Earth Day event.

    USDA Rural Development helped fund the project with $964,500 in grants through its renewable energy grant program.

“The Wolf’s are to be commended for their renewable energy venture,” Anderson said.  “Projects such as theirs will help provide for a cleaner environment and assist in paving the way to future economic opportunities for rural Minnesota.”

Wind energy is a family tradition for the Wolf family.  Each turbine is owned by a member of the Wolf family along with an equity investor. Ryan Wolf is the project coordinator. Three generations of Wolf’s have an ownership stake, including Grandfather Joe, Ryan’s parents Mike and Cindy, and sister Gina. The family leases the land for the turbines from a cousin.  The project puts out 6.25 megawatts of power.

    “President Bush has always emphasized the importance of using alternative sources of energy,” Wenzel said. “I want to thank Ryan and the Wolf family for undertaking this very important project. Their efforts will go a long way in making our world a cleaner place.”

Since 2001, USDA Rural Development has invested over $350 million in renewable energy – ethanol, biodiesel, wind, solar, and energy efficiency.  These government dollars have leveraged over $1.2 billion of private investment in green energy.

    Throughout Minnesota, USDA Rural Development has invested about $2.5 billion since 2001.   The agency's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Rural Development provides investment and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.

    For more information on USDA Rural Development, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/mn, or call the office in Worthington at (507) 372-7783. For more information on the agency’s renewable energy grant and loan program, call Lisa Noty at (507) 373-7960x120.

Send mail to adam.czech@mn.usda.gov with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: November 01, 2007