Wind Power News: Arkansas
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted.
Ropin’ the wind: Harnessing wind far from sure bet in Northwest Arkansas
Seizing the power of wind and using it as an alternative energy source is a concept that has yet to “arrive”in Washington County, but a few people want to see about the possibilities.
A Chicago-based energy company is interested in building two test towers in south Washington County to determine if there is enough wind to build power-generating turbines.
The company will seek a conditional-use permit at the Jan. 8 Washington County Planning Board meeting for the test towers, said . . .
Benton County plans for future wind farms
BENTONVILLE — The Benton County Quorum Court should consider adopting regulations for wind farms before any more developers seek to construct them, said Benton County Planning Director Ashley Pope.
The Planning Office is drafting an ordinance to require companies developing wind farms to mitigate impact from 400-foot-tall wind turbines. County cell tower and large-scale regulations don’t cover wind turbines, Pope said.
“Obviously this is a different type of development than a cell tower and will have different impacts, but it . . .
Energy company wants to test wind
FAYETTEVILLE — A Chicago energy company wants to test Washington County’s wind to know if its commercially viable.
Invenergy wants the county’s planning board to allow the company to install two meteorological towers to test wind on Sunset Road east of Winslow.
Company representative Brandon Ferrall was not available Friday for comment but wrote about the company’s plans in a recent letter to the county planning office.
“The first step in any wind project is to test the wind. We . . .
Going in circles: The introduction of a wind farm to northwest Arkansas is far from a sure thing
It’s difficult to say wind energy is contagious in our neck of the woods. You get the feeling some northwest Arkansas residents would like to back any proposal for alternative forms of energy, but many others aren’t enamored with every plan. About the only sign we see of change on the horizon is a church along Interstate 540 that actually installed small wind turbines to power its worship center.
But is large-scale commercial wind power even feasible in northwest Arkansas . . .
Planning staff researching wind farms
Washington County Planning Director Juliet Richey says she has recently received inquiries concerning wind farms.
“We’ve had a couple people approach us about wind farms,” Richey told the Planning Board Thursday.
While nothing firm has been proposed to go before the Washington County Planning Board & Zoning Board of Adjustments, Richey talked about the need to research wind farms and come up with some guidelines for them.
“We’re looking into some research on this,” she said.
There are things to . . .
What’s this about a wind farm? : Trade Wind Energy fields questions from county residents
GRAVETTE — A wind farm ? In western Benton County and northeastern Oklahoma ?
With the Benton County Planning Board having voted unanimously last week to approve the construction of a meteorological tower in Sulphur Springs to study the feasibility of what could become a 25, 000-acre wind farm, the possibility is very real. That’s all Gary O’Neal, who owns approximately 80 acres just west of Sulphur Springs needed to know to start listening a little closer.
What exactly is . . .
Wind company wants turbines on 15,000 acres
BENTON COUNTY — A Kansas-based energy company is preparing plans for a giant wind farm for west Benton County that would build about 100 turbines generating enough electricity to power up to 40, 000 houses.
TradeWind Energy of Lenexa, Kan., finalized lease agreements for the initial 2, 000 acres just north of Maysville for what it’s calling the Honey Creek Wind Project, said Aaron Weigel, the project’s development manager.
Honey Creek eventually will include 26, 000 acres that will straddle . . .
Wind energy to be studied in Benton County
A proposed tower that measures the temperature and speed of wind in Sulfur Springs could bring new economic opportunities to Benton County, said Aaron Weigel, development manager of Tradewind Energy.
The Benton County Planning Board’s Technical Advisory Committee reviewed plans Wednesday to put a 195-foot-tall meteorological tower on 80 acres off Sibley Road. The Planning Board will decide whether to approve the tower’s construction during its regular board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17.
The tower is not a . . .
