SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A closely held company is snapping up rights to thousands of acres of private land for a wind farm near Manila in northeastern Utah, promising royalties to the local ranchers.
The startup, RAAM Power Inc., is borrowing wind meters from the Utah Geological Survey to measure wind speed over time and assess the best locations for 50 or more wind towers.
The Salt Lake City-based company is putting together financing for a wind farm that could produce around 100 megawatts of power.
It's the first wind project for Christy White, the majority shareholder and chief executive of RAAM Power.
Locals around Manila, which is near the Wyoming state line, joke that the sagebrush all leans in one direction and winds blow 40 mph most of the time. White says that's only a slight exaggeration.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
