Winds of alternative energy change for White County picked up force Monday morning, as the White County Commissioners and White County Council approved an economic development agreement with Horizon Wind Energy during their joint session.

Running slightly behind their agenda's time schedule, Board of Commissioners President John Heimlich joked that the meeting's slow progression was fitting for the day.

"We determined a long time ago that we have plenty of wind here in White County," laughed Heimlich.

A project unlike any kind White County has seen, the potential arrival of Horizon Wind Energy to the Brookston area brings with it the Meadow Lake Wind Farm. To be located in White and Benton counties, Meadow Lake has an initial proposed installed capacity of 200 megawatts - enough to power 60,000 average Indiana homes with clean energy.

The proposed resolution on the table Monday served a two-fold purpose - asking for the approval of the economic development agreement, which also included a road use agreement, for Phase I of the project.

Planning on the installation of 126 wind turbines on 26,000 acres of White County land, Horizon representatives were on hand to discuss the plan with county officials.

According to the economic development agreement, the anticipated investment in the project on Horizon's end will be $460 million in equipment and real estate improvements.

With a 10-year tax abatement under consideration, Horizon would agree to stipulations regarding the maintenance of the roads they will use during the construction phase of the project - roads that run from the White/Tippecanoe County line north to White County Road 350S, one mile west to Ind. 43 and over to County Road 600W.

"If those things are not handled properly, there is a means to fine them," said White County Economic Development Director Connie Neininger, adding that performance assurances would be in place.

"Once 50 percent of the turbines have been delivered to the site, the performance assurance will drop to $5 million. When it is all complete that number will drop to $2 million, and there is a two-year warranty on the roads."

According to Neininger the project - which will still need the approval of the development agreement by Meadow Lake LLC and in turn Horizon Wind Energy's corporate board in Texas - is expected to start with road work in February of this year. Hoping to start construction on the wind turbines themselves in May, by February 2010 Neininger said the group tentatively expects to have the entire project finished.

"(Approving this resolution) is the first step to opening up to Horizon," said Neininger. "We need to let them know we are welcoming them into the community before they can approve it."

Stipulated in the agreement, Horizon will pay $160,000 to the county for legal fees encumbered in the planning stages. Also, Horizon will pay $1.28 million on commencement of the project, along with the same total on the first and second anniversaries of the project's start to total $4 million paid to White County.

Both boards agreed to the economic development agreement unanimously, with Commissioner Steve Burton abstaining from the vote. Representing the Brookston area on the board, Burton said that because his property falls within the scope of the project it would not be appropriate to cast a vote.

"I felt it wasn't appropriate to make a decision on this issue," said Burton who, though not voting, has played an integral role in planning sessions with Horizon. "Whether I am to be a part of this project (as a landowner) or not, I felt it was appropriate to abstain."

Eager to bring the plan to Horizon officials in the coming month, project manager Martin Culik expressed his pleasure with the boards' decision Monday.

"We are looking forward to being a part of White County," said Culik. "We know we are going to be proud to work with you in the future."