Wind Power News: Kansas
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 and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Counties hope to develop wind energy in NW Kansas
It’s a twist on the classic conundrum of which came first, the chicken or the egg? As far as counties and developers are concerned in the wind-rich region of northwest Kansas, it’s more of a question of which needs to come first, the wind farms or the transmission line to move the electricity produced by the spinning turbine blades? At least that’s what was on the plate Wednesday in WaKeeney. That’s the scenario being played out in the region, according . . .
Grant Co. to consider major wind farm project
The Grant County Commission on Tuesday is planning to consider a wind farm project that could be worth millions of dollars. The project, developed by Tradewind Energy of Lenexa, has the potential to be a $600 million development and generate enough power to provide electricity for 65,000 homes if it reaches full capacity. The company has worked more than three years to secure long-term leases for 40,000 acres that could include 100 to 200 turbines across areas of Grant and . . .
FAA accused of fast-tracking wind farm
The FAA has cleared development of a 64-turbine wind farm west of Pratt Regional Airport in Kansas. But the Pratt County Zoning Board is left scratching its collective head after a former FAA employee who’s also a commercial pilot, flight instructor, and expert witness in 60 lawsuits says the FAA screwed up, and building the wind farm could leave the county liable for aviation accidents. The Pratt Tribune reports that on Monday evening, Don Hensley of Safe Sky, LLC told . . .
Nature Conservancy acts to protect 5,000 acres of Red Hills
Pratt, Kan. — The Red Hills of Kansas, also known as the Gypsum or Gyp Hills, present a rugged face to the world. Characterized by high, flat-topped buttes of a deep red-orange color, often with white outcroppings of gypsum, steep, craggy canyons and tough native grasses that survive climate extremes, the land and wildlife that populates it face environmental threats on several fronts. The Nature Conservancy, based in Virginia and with a Kansas chapter headed by Rob Manes, former assistant . . .
Indeck sees inaccuracies
On January 7, 2012, you published “Zoning Board Looks at Turbine Setback Requirements.” While Indeck Energy certainly appreciates the work of reporter J.W. Keene, there were a few factual inaccuracies and some confusion regarding issues surrounding the proposed wind farm for Pratt County. Regarding the Pratt Municipal Airport: The article indicated that Indeck Energy would “eliminate the proposed wind farm project around [the airport].” Indeck has never proposed a project “around” the Pratt Municipal Airport. We have worked with the . . .
Financing found for Gray County wind farms
Developers of two separate wind farms in western Kansas announced this week they’ve secured financing to complete the projects, much of it for one project from overseas. CPV Renewable Energy Co. revealed Wednesday it has reached agreement on $262.8 million of financing for construction of its 165.6 megawatt Cimarron Wind Energy Project in Gray County. The company began construction on the wind farm last month and expects it to be in commercial operation by November, according to a company release. . . .
Can we afford wind energy?
In Kansas, and especially Hutchinson, raising fiscal objections to taxpayers subsidizing the wind industry makes you about as popular as Michele Bachman at a Barack Obama rally. Without equivocation let me say that I firmly believe having the Siemens wind energy plant in Hutchinson is one of the best things that has happened for our community during the past decade. It is a fantastic addition to our business environment, providing excellent jobs and a badly needed morale boost for the . . .
Zoning board looks at turbine setback requirements
Pratt, Kan. — The Pratt County Zoning Board met Monday, Jan. 2 and discussed setback regulations for wind turbines around various categories of properties in the county. Initially, the group wanted to define the differences between participating (leased property) and non-participating (non-leased property) setbacks for wind turbines. The suggested setback for wind turbines from houses on leased property was 1,500 feet, one mile for houses on non-leased property, one-half mile from any non-leased property with, or without, a house, and . . .
Turbine use permit approved for HCC, 308
After some lively discussion about noise levels, the Hutchinson City Council on Tuesday approved a conditional use permit for Hutchinson Community College and the Hutchinson School District to erect a 5-kilowatt wind turbine atop a 90-foot tower between the track and the football practice field at Hutchinson High School. Mayor Ron Sellers and City Council Member Bob Bush questioned Jamie Funke and Jackie Long of HCC and David Patterson of USD 308′s Career and Technical Education Academy about how much . . .
Kansas regulators OK power line from wind farms to Missouri, points east
A Houston-based company has received initial approval from Kansas regulators to develop a high-voltage transmission line across the state to carry electricity from wind farms to Missouri and states farther east. The Kansas Corporation Commission this week approved an application from Clean Line Energy Partners to do business as a public utility in Kansas. The KCC decision is a big step in the company’s efforts to get regulatory approval in three states to build a $2 billion, 700-mile transmission line . . .
