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Hi. I'm State Representative Terry Brown. Welcome to my weekly update, "Talking With Terry."

As the demand for clean, renewable energy grows, more investors in this rapidly growing industry will be showing interest in the Thumb. As Michigan's leader in wind energy, we will reap tremendous economic benefits from the increase in production of this clean source of electricity.

Wind energy has many benefits for us. It creates jobs, brings in extra money for schools and our communities, and attracts researchers, educators and tourists. Ramping up wind energy also enables us to put our manufacturing base to work in a new industry – building wind turbine components. Another major benefit is that farmers and others who lease their land to wind energy companies receive thousands of dollars each year. In addition, they can still farm almost all of the land except for the small amount directly around a wind turbine. Signing such a lease is nothing to rush into, though.

Wind-energy leases usually last at least 20 years, and often much longer.

It's very important to take all the time you need. You will want to talk with your family, as well as with your neighbors about the kinds of offers they are getting. And, most of all, you will want to consult with a qualified attorney and have that person look over the contract.

Some property owners say that when they have been approached by a wind energy developer, they have felt pressured to sign a wind-energy lease quickly. That type of pressure is not acceptable. Even if you sign an agreement, you should have the right to change your mind in a reasonable amount of time.

To make sure our landowners' interests are protected, I have introduced legislation to allow people who sign wind leases to cancel the lease within 14 days. The plan requires the statement of the 14-day cancellation rule be printed in type slightly bigger than the text of the contract itself.  I also encourage you to go to my Web site and use a worksheet posted there that helps landowners evaluate whether the lease they are offered is right for them. The address is house.mi.gov/tbrown.

I believe that wind energy can be highly beneficial for our farmers and our economy. However, every property owner and every community should make their own decision, once they have all the information they need.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact me with any concerns or questions that you have. You can call me, toll-free, at (888) 254-5284. Or, you can e-mail me at terrybrown@house.mi.gov. I am here to serve you and your family and represent your interests at our state Capitol.

Thank you for listening to "Talking with Terry."

Make it a great day!