Commissioners place wind generators on the table
A proposal to relocate 36 wind generators near Pilot Butte was tabled after the Sweetwater County Commissioners could not come to a decision about the move.
The proposal, made by Tasco Engineering would allow the company to relocate the 36 generators already approved by the commissioners to places within the approved sections to allow for better wind generation.
The company was also requesting that it have additional latitude to allow the generator’s manufacturing company to move the towers to places the manufacturing company sees and better places.
According to Rick Frandsen, vice president of operations for Tasco Engineering, the company made the request after using better models of the area and wind currents to determine better areas to place the generators.
The new placement would conform to the original permit’s visibility requirements.
Originally, the company applied to have total control over the placement of generators within the approved sections of land. However, the recommendation made by the county’s planning and zoning department allows for the the generators to be placed within 200 meters of the spots indicated on department’s map.
“We believe it’s a reasonable adjustment,” Mark Kot, the county’s community development supervisor, said.
Commissioner Wally Johnson warned Frandsen that one of the votes that got the wind farm approved was no longer on the board.
Johnson said he had reservations about the project because the proposed wind farm the commissioners approved called for 36 towers, but now the total number planned exceeds more than 200.
“If that’s the case, it’s not fair for the people of Sweetwater County to piecemeal it together,” Johnson said.
Commissioner Debby Dellai-Boese said she echoes Johnson’s concerns.
Frandsen said the company is working with the Bureau of Land Management to place an additional 62 towers on public land.
The 36 approved by the commissioners will be placed on land owned by the Rock Springs Grazing Association.
Johnson voiced support for the move, however, Dellai-Boese said she would like to go to the proposed site with a representative from Tasco Engineering to see how the changes would affect the area.
Dellai-Boese also expressed concern about the growth in the number of wind generators and low tax return the county would receive from the generators. The only tax generated from the wind farm would be through property tax.
“I want to see how we can best make use of it,” Dellai-Boese said.
By David Martin
Staff Writer
3 September 2008
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Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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