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Invenergy acquires Atchison County wind farm project, a future Ameren facility

Invenergy — the company behind the massive Grain Belt project — has acquired a large wind energy development project in Atchison County. 

The 300-megawatt project encompasses about 40,000 acres and nearly 150 landowners. Upon its completion, Ameren Missouri will purchase 100 percent of the ownership and take control of the facility. 

“The growth of renewable projects in the state has stemmed from federal policy and also Missouri’s renewable mandate. Both have been a positive from Northwest Missouri,” Atchison County Clerk Susette Taylor said in a statement. 

Taylor noted legislation passed last session altering how property taxes collected on utility-owned wind farms are distributed will come into play with this project. 

After the passage of HB 220, championed by Republican Rep. Allen Andrews, property taxes collected on wind farms owned by utility companies must remain local. Previously, those taxes were distributed in areas the utility serviced. 

“We are excited to have this investment in Northwest Missouri and … these tax dollars will stay local, regardless of who owns the project,” Taylor said. “This project means an additional $3 million in tax revenue to our small county.” 

“Ameren does not have customers in Atchison County so we would have had very little revenue from this project without this important fix,” she said. 

Invenergy purchased the Outlaw Wind Project from Tradewind Energy. It still has a completion goal of 2020. 

Earlier this year, the Public Service Commission approved Invenergy’s acquisition of the Grain Belt Express Clean Line project. One of the largest renewable energy projects in the country, it is set to establish a nearly 800-mile long transmission line extending through eight Missouri counties. 

The project received substantial pushback from landowner organizations citing eminent domain concerns