Landowner Portal
General Account Questions
How can I change my mailing address, or my name due to change in marital status?
It is very important you keep us informed of an address change. A correct address on file will allow you to receive future checks and 1099 tax information promptly. Address changes must be received in writing. Please complete the Change of Address Form and send to the following: .
The change request MUST include the landowner’s name, last 4 digits of social security/tax identification number and signature. All owners of record must sign the change of name/address form.
Please send a copy of your marriage certificate to update your name as a result of marriage, or a divorce decree if your last name changed due to divorce.
Land Ownership Questions
What happens when the owner of the property passes away?
You will need to furnish us with the proper documentation that shows the disposition of the ownership of the Property. After we are notified, the deceased owner’s revenue will be held in suspense pending receipt of the proper probate documents and/or affidavit of death and heirship.
If there is no last will and testament or the will is not being probated, please follow the instructions noted for completing an affidavit of heirship. See link below for instructions and document forms.
- Affidavit of Heirship Guidelines
- Instructions for Change of Ownership after Owner’s Death (Affidavit of Heirship)
- Affidavit of Heirship
If the estate is being probated, please follow the instructions below outlined in the link for probated will.
Instructions for Change of Ownership after Owner’s Death (Probated Will)
Do you have a beneficiary form?
No. Transfer of title for leasehold ownership requires proper recorded documentation made through a deed or other conveyance document; or, in the event the party is deceased, through probate or affidavit of heirship as defined in the previous question.
If the ownership is being conveyed, see the instructions for the next question below.
How do I report a change of ownership, other than an owner passing away?
The transfer of interest between parties, the addition of names to existing accounts, or any change in title requires a transfer (conveyance) document. This document should convey the rights from the former owner to the new owner and clearly specify what rights are being conveyed. Also, this document must be filed of record (recorded) in the county or counties where the Property is located. A properly completed, executed and notarized deed or assignment recorded in the proper county records (bearing a legible recorder’s stamp) is required to document the conveyance.
You may choose to utilize an attorney to assist you with this matter or obtain a blank deed/assignment form from another reliable source. Gift Deeds, Quitclaim Deeds, and Warranty Deeds are commonly used to convey land ownership to other parties, and assignments. can be used to convey rights other than land ownership. After you have completed the deed/assignment, send the document for recording in the county/state where the property is located. When you receive the recorded document back, make a copy of the recorded document and send it to us at , so that we may update our records and payment instructions.
Royalty Revenue Questions
What are royalties?
Royalties are the landowner’s proportionate share of revenues received by the wind farm, as defined in the underlying lease.
When do you issue royalty checks?
Royalty checks are issued quarterly or semiannually, depending on the terms of the lease.
Will the royalty check vary?
Yes. Many factors contribute to your payment, such as actual wind conditions, plant ability to convert wind into electricity, utility and grid outages, and fluctuating prices received for electricity.
When are royalty payments suspended?
For the protection of owner’s rights to income, payments are suspended upon a title dispute, assignment of interest, notice of death; transfer of property, or in the event of no known address. Keeping your information current can prevent this inconvenience.
Tax Questions
Will I have to report the revenue I receive on tax returns?
Yes. Landowners of record receiving $600.00 or more annually will receive an IRS Form 1099-Misc by January 31 of the following year. The income reported to the IRS is your gross income prior to any other deductions or taxes. The Form 1099-Misc will also list any state or U.S. withholding amounts deducted from your revenue checks.
Can I request for Novatus or the wind farm owner to withhold federal taxes from my check?
No. You will receive a Form 1099-Misc at the end of the year to review with your tax preparer.
How can I obtain a Form W-9 to avoid mandatory back-up withholding?
We must have a completed and signed Form W-9 on file for each payment recipient. The Form W-9 is available on the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf. If you would like for us to email the IRS fillable Form W-9 to you, please contact us at the following: .
Lost or Stolen Checks
What should I do if I do not receive a check that was issued to me?
If you have not received your check after 15 business days from the date the check was originally mailed, please contact our office to process a void of the original check and request a payment reissue on the next available check issuance date. Once we void your check, please do not attempt to cash it. The check will be voided in our system and will no longer be honored when presented for payment. You must wait and cash the reissued replacement check.
What should I do if I ever lose my check, it is stolen, or I forget to cash it before the expiration date listed on the check?
Contact Information
How can I contact you if I still have questions?
The Novatus Energy Asset Management Team is available to help serve our landowner needs. Please contact us by email at , and we will be happy to assist you. Alternatively, landowners for the below listed wind farms may call the designated Asset Manager for assistance.
- Blue Sky West (Bingham), Evergreen Wind Power II (Oakfield), and Hancock wind farms in Maine: Stacey Fitts at (631) 552-5907 or .
- Route 66 and South Plains II wind farms in Texas: Ty Shelton at (631) 552-5911 or .
- Sunflower wind farm in North Dakota: Raul Garcia at (631) 552-5905 or .
- Palouse wind farm in Washington: Bruce Kerr at (631) 552-5903 or .
Disclaimer: Any instructions or guidance provided by Novatus Management on behalf of its owned renewable energy facilities are provided for informational purposes only and are based on our customary documentation and policy requirements. Documentation and policy requirements may differ based on the facts of each matter. No information or instructions provided by Novatus Management constitutes or should be construed as legal advice, and you are encouraged to seek advice from a licensed attorney of your own choosing. Novatus Management shall not be responsible for your use of or reliance on any instructions or information provided by Novatus Management and you hereby release Novatus Management from all such liability and hereby assume any and all risks associated therewith.