Landowners Learn about Property Rights
More than 160 landowners attended an informational expo this week in Stanley to get a better understanding about the impacts of energy development.
The event was organized by the Northwest Landowners Association. Chairman Troy Coons, who was interviewed this week on the radio program
Energy Matters, said it’s important that landowners know their rights when negotiating with any kind of energy developer that wants to lease their property.
Click
here to listen to Coons’ comments.
Coons said in some cases all landowners affected by a wind farm project receive compensation, even if they don’t have a turbine on their land.
Click
here to listen to Coons’ comments.
Coons said the NW Landowners Association is not opposed to any form of energy development. He said his organization’s main focus is making sure landowners get the best deal when it happens.
State Senator David Rust (R-Tioga) spoke at the gathering. Rust said there are a couple of wind farms proposed for northwestern North Dakota near Tioga. He said there are mixed opinions about another wind farm in the area.
"A lot of farmers today are looking for ways to help out their bottom line, and so they're looking more favorably at wind farms," he said. "I think a landowner should be able to use their land as they wish, whether it is wind, oil, gas or gravel."
Rust serves on the legislature's Interim Energy Development and Transmission Committee and is a past president of the ND Association of Oil & Gas Producing Counties, now WDEA.
Click
here to listen to the full interview with Coons.