A 7,000-acre cattle ranch in Kansas has found an unusual way to generate a steady income alongside traditional ranching. Pete Ferrell, a fourth-generation rancher, hosts 50 industrial wind turbines on his property as part of the 100-turbine Elk River Wind Project, a 150-megawatt facility that began operating in 2005. The turbines do not replace the cattle or transform the entire ranch into an energy facility. Instead, cattle continue to graze across much of the tallgrass prairie while the wind project provides Ferrell with lease income. The facility also generates enough electricity to serve tens of thousands of homes based on its original production estimates. What began as a source of concern for Ferrell eventually became an important financial cushion, particularly during droughts when traditional ranching income can become unpredictable.
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