CRELA – Standing for the Land, Renewing the Future

As Americans, we value and seek to protect the cherished rights of freedom and liberty and one of the best expressions of those rights is ability to have private land ownership. Our members own and lease land that has been historically dedicated to the production of crops and livestock. As times change, landowners have been challenged to find new ways to utilize the land to be financially viable while still protecting the land and keeping it productive for future generations.

In Standing for the Land, we take a holistic approach to what is required for economic and physical sustainability of the landowner, their family and their land. CRELA will always first and foremost advocate for policies and products that enhance and protect the landowner’s traditional livelihood derived from crop and livestock production. The holistic approach means looking at and utilizing other means to enhance revenue derived from the land to help sustain traditional income sources. Within the last 100 years for some landowners, this has come in the form of mineral extraction, whether by mining or by well. CRELA stands for the landowners right to engage in mineral and gas development. In the case where the mineral and gas resources are owned in whole or part by others, CRELA stands for the landowner’s right to maintain a productive, safe and healthy surface.

However, not all landowners have the opportunity to utilize the mineral estate, but every landowner does have wind that blows and sun that shines over 300 days per years on the high plains. The third leg of the holistic piece is harvesting of the wind and solar resource for economic benefit. Renewing the Future.

The landowner association was formed to foster and promote common interest in renewable energy development.  We wanted to offer a block or large acreage tract of potentially eligible land for construction. The landowner association was also used to pool financial resources of its participants to hire legal counsel to negotiate a fair and equitable contract that would be beneficial to all. CRELA was formed in March of 2008 to unite landowner associations into a common voice to address issues and concerns that would help or hinder renewable energy development.

CRELA stands for a balanced and holistic approach by being active and engaged in four areas:

POLICY

CRELA stands for local, state and federal policies that provide economic benefit and stability for the landowner and their community and for policies that promote responsible renewable energy and mineral/gas development. CRELA stands against policy that restricts private property rights, personal liberties and devalues private land. We oppose policy that puts landowners in economic harm or jeopardizes their health and safety.

REGULATORY

CRELA stands for a regulatory structure that imposes as little personal or financial burden as absolutely necessary. We oppose regulations that hinder renewable energy development or eliminates it entirely. CRELA also opposes regulations that take away personal liberties supported by the United States Constitution and that curtail the full bundle of land ownership rights.

EDUCATION

CRELA’s main objective is to get as much information to our members as possible to make informed decisions regarding the future of their land. CRELA seeks to promote collaboration between renewable energy industry professionals and landowners.

Understanding and engagement is vital to success. CRELA works to look out for the beneficial interests of its landowner members by serving as a source of information on contract and operating agreement development along with industry and market trends. We also seek to educate its members on the science and business of renewable energy development.

ADVOCACY

CRELA works to establish industry partnerships and contacts so the landowners can be informed and industry professionals are made aware that our members are interested. CRELA stands for and with those projects that can be most beneficial to our members and their communities. CRELA also works to support those projects as an advocate before local, state and federal agencies, before other groups and organizations and ultimately the general public/consumer.

 

 

 Energy Resources & CRELA