Resources for negotiating with landmen and corporations
In March, Eastern Montana Resource Council (EMRC) organized a seminar to inform landowners about property rights as proposed wind farm projects enter the region. Montana-based property rights attorney Hertha Lund shared insights about how landowners can negotiate the most beneficial deals with potential energy developers if they choose to.
“We have seen what can happen when large energy corporations come in from out of state and tend to have only their own interests in mind,” said Kristin Aus, a Glendive-area rancher and member of EMRC. “We want to equip our neighbors with as much accurate and credible information as possible. They should understand their rights as property owners and get fair compensation if they choose to enter an agreement with an energy developer.”
Corporations have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders to maximize profits. That means that they will try to get the best deal possible for themselves when they negotiate agreements with landowners. The goal of this page is to provide landowners and local governments with the resources to negotiate on a more level playing field. It is important for people to understand what their property rights are.
We have a video recording from Hertha’s talk and you can also click here to download an annotated wind contract from eastern Montana with suggestions for how one could improve it. Please feel free to share with your friends, neighbors, and family. You can also view it below. Some information has been blacked out to preserve confidentiality.