Geronimo Energy announced that it has made a lump sum donation to fund the entirety of the Courtenay Community Fund, which is designed to benefit the communities near the Courtenay Wind Farm, located near Courtenay, North Dakota. The gift was made as the charitable-giving component of the Courtenay Wind Farm, which Geronimo Energy sold to Xcel Energy in 2015.
Geronimo Energy’s Community Funds provide annual charitable gifts to benefit the communities during the first 20 years of a wind farm’s operation. The spending of Community Funds is at the direction of a local board of directors, who are typically landowners participating in the project or community members near the project footprint.
The donation is intended to fund annual charitable dispersals in the area of up to $40,000 per year over a 20 year period, totaling an estimated $800,000. The Courtenay Community Fund will be administered by the North Dakota Community Foundation, who will act as the official 501(c)3 entity.
However, grant dispersal will be advised by a local board comprised of community members and Courtenay Wind Farm participating landowners.
The Courtenay Community Fund Board includes the following individuals, who were nominated by project landowners: Tiffiney Dick, Marica Bollingberg, Keith Mitchell, Darold Soupir and Terry Schoeler.
“When Geronimo came to us landowners and community members in 2008 with the idea of the wind farm, they promised to have a positive effect on our community,” said Lee and Tiffiney Dick in a statement regarding the donation. “They have continued their support with the gift of an $800,000 Courtenay Community Fund for us to put back into our community organizations for the next 20 years and beyond. Thank you for the opportunities you have provided to all of us in the Courtenay Wind Farm. You have kept your promise! We appreciate your gift.”
Geronimo Energy’s Community Funds provide annual charitable gifts to benefit the communities during the first 20 years of a wind farm’s operation. The spending of Community Funds is at the direction of a local board of directors, who are typically landowners participating in the project or community members near the project footprint.
The goal of Community Funds is to provide direct benefit and value to the entire community touched by Geronimo Energy’s wind farms. Currently, Geronimo Energy has committed to donating over $5.6 million dollars through its tier one wind farm Community Funds during the first 20 years of each wind farm’s operation.
“Geronimo was founded with deep roots in agriculture and an understanding and respect for farming practices,” said Blake Nixon, Chief Executive Officer for Geronimo Energy. “Geronimo’s farmer-friendly development approach, including its commitment to charitable giving, ensures that each of our projects will benefit the local area for years to come. By reinvesting in our local cities and towns, Geronimo and community members are working together towards building stronger rural communities.”
The Courtenay Community Fund Board will begin dispersing grant applications to local community members in 2018. Awarded applicants must be associated with a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
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