Citizens' Wind Power Plants Seek Investors

Two citizens' wind power plants are slated to begin commercial operation this spring (2003). Both are located in northern Japan, one in Ajigasawa, Aomori Prefecture and the other in Tennou, Akita Prefecture. These will be the second and third such projects following Japan's first citizens' wind power plant, Hamakaze-chan, or "beach wind," in Hamatonbetsu, Hokkaido, installed in September, 2001.

To fund the first wind power plants to be located in Aomori and Akita, the Japan Green Fund has started to solicit investments from around Japan. The Green Fund is a nationwide platform established on December 7, 2002, that aims to promote renewable energy in a way that will benefit the local community.

The wind power plants will be situated in the Shirakami Beech Forest, a World Heritage Site in the northern mountains. Three separate investment schemes have been designed that will target local, prefectural and national investors. In this offering, the Fund will undertake investments for the nationwide scheme. One thousand shares will be offered at 100,000 yen (about U.S.$840) per share. The contract period is for 15 years, and a 3-year unredeemable period has been set for the principal. Thus, the repayment period will be for 12 years starting in the fourth year. Apportionment of returns during the contract period will vary according to the type of scheme. Yields are expected to be 3 percent for local investors, 2 percent for prefectural investors and 1.5 percent for national investors.


- Japan Green Fund For Renewable Energy Established (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/177-j

Posted: 2003/04/19 11:01:18 AM
Japanese version