COURTENAY, N.D. (WimbledonNewsletter) – American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) CEO Tom Kiernan presented his organization’s Wind Champion Award for 2018 to Senator Heidi Heitkamp on August 8 at Courtenay ND.

The award is bestowed upon friends of the American wind industry who have promoted policies that are pro-wind, allowing the wind energy industry to reach record high job numbers and enjoy dramatic cost reductions and technology improvements.

The celebration in Courtenay also commemorated the first year of Community Fund disbursements. For every wind project that Geronimo Energy develops that enters operations, Geronimo Energy provides a charitable funding vehicle for the project’s host community. Community Funds donate annually for the first 20 years of operations.

The first year’s awards for the Courtenay Community Foundation totaling $40,000 were announced to the public.

The 200 megawatt Courtenay Wind Farm was developed by Geronimo Energy. Geronimo Energy sold the Courtenay Wind Farm to Xcel Energy before construction. Xcel Energy operates the Courtenay Wind Farm, which started producing electricity late in 2016.

Geronimo Energy is a full-service renewable energy company headquartered in Edina, Minnesota, with offices located in North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, New York, Colorado and Michigan.

This visit continues Heitkamp’s strong record of supporting renewable energy businesses by visiting and speaking firsthand with workers on the ground.

Story and cover photo courtesy of the Wimbledon Newsletter.