The proposed Bent Tree Wind Farm in northwest Freeborn County could come under new ownership.

Wisconsin Power & Light Co., a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corp., created a letter of intent to purchase the 400-megawatt wind farm site from Wind Capital Group, according to a press release.

In early February, Wind Capital Group representatives presented information to the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners about their work to develop the Bent Tree Wind Farm.

The farm would be located on 32,000 acres on either side of state Highway 13, from Manchester through Hartland reaching north to the border of Freeborn County. It would incorporate land in Manchester, Hartland and Bath townships.

According to Sean Stocker, vice president of project development at Wind Capital Group, 25,000 acres have been signed into cooperative agreements, and the company is currently working on leasing agreements.

"I think it's a pretty good deal for the farmers," said Board of Commissioners Chairman Glen Mathiason, whose district is where the wind farm would be located. "It certainly isn't going to hurt the county to have that presence there."

Landowners would receive $1 million in rent. In addition, the wind farm will have to pay production taxes in excess of $1 million a year to the state. The state then returns the production tax back to the county.

"It's well over $2 million a year to the local economy," said Stocker.

The Bent Tree Wind Farm could produce up to 400 megawatts of emissions-free energy, which could power up to 100,000 homes. It would be the largest wind farm in Minnesota.

The wind farm's total cost is estimated at $760 million, at $1.8 million per megawatt to build. The farm would have 150 to 270 turbines ranging in size from 1.5 to 2.5 megawatts. Each turbine must be located 1,000 feet from every residence.

The purchase of the wind farm by Wisconsin Power & Light would be the next step in the process to make a Freeborn County wind farm a reality. Mathiason said he is assuming the project will materialize.

"I think it would be excellent if it comes here," he said.

Planning for the Bent Tree Wind Farm, and a 5,500-acre farm along Interstate 90 between Conger and Alden, began last spring.