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.
EPA, wind powering electric-rate increases
The following commentary was submitted by Reps. Dennis Hedke, R-Wichita; Pete DeGraaf, R-Mulvane; Jim Howell, R-Derby; Joseph Scapa, R-Wichita; Jana Goodman, R-Leavenworth; Peggy Mast, R-Emporia; Forrest Knox, R-Altoona; Greg Smith, R-Overland Park; Leslie Osterman, R-Wichita; and Charlotte O’Hara, R-Overland Park. “Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket, even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad. Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, natural gas, you name it – . . .
Tax break’s end a blow to wind power in Kansas
BARBER COUNTY — BP Wind Energy certainly was getting its money’s worth recently as a steady 30-mile-an-hour wind spun the 148-foot-long turbine blades at the Flat Ridge 1 wind farm at a surprisingly fast clip. The 100-megawatt wind farm north of Medicine Lodge has spawned a now-under-construction extension, Flat Ridge 2, that is four times bigger. It’s a key reason why Kansas is the nation’s top destination for wind farm construction this year, with a near doubling of the state’s . . .
Lawmakers push to end all energy subsidies
WICHITA – U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo has joined a Republican push in Washington to end all energy tax credits. The Republican congressman from Kansas is sponsoring legislation in the House seeking to end all energy tax subsidies, including the production tax credit for electricity produced from renewable resources such as wind, biomass and hydropower. “My energy legislation gets rid of every single tax credit in the entire federal Internal Revenue code,” Pompeo said in a phone interview Thursday. “It doesn’t . . .
Kansas delegation differs on wind tax credits
McPherson, Kan. — McPherson’s representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are at odds over the future of tax credits to wind energy producers. Sen. Jerry Moran has publicly announced his support for the renewal of wind energy production tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Meanwhile, 1st Dist. Rep. Tim Huelskamp has stated his opposition to the renewal of such tax credits, and Sen. Pat Roberts has yet to come out . . .
Ford County Commission OKs PILOT agreement with enXco
DODGE CITY — Starting next year, Ford County will receive at least $250,000 annually from the company developing a wind farm near Spearville. The Ford County Commission approved on Thursday a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement with enXco, which is developing the Spearville 3 wind farm. The agreement calls for enXco to pay the county $253,459 in 2013 and increase the amount each year, ending with a $614,341 payment in 2042. The payments will continue if the wind . . .
Mars barred from building wind turbine; Proposed tower would conflict with Forbes Field airspace
Despite an incentive agreement that references it, Mars Chocolate North America won’t construct a wind turbine for its Topeka site. That is because having a wind turbine on the Kanza Fire Commerce Park would interfere with the airspace of nearby Forbes Field. “Any object constructed in Kanza Fire does interfere with approaches and departures,” said Eric Johnson, president of the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority. “It would severely limit the use of Forbes Field in general.” Mars initially wanted a 400-foot-high . . .
County OKs wind farm agreement
The Finney County Commission approved an agreement Tuesday with a wind energy company that is estimated to bring the county approximately $100,000 in its first year. After receiving approval from County Counselor Thomas Burgardt, all five commissioners signed the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with TradeWind Energy of Lenexa. The agreement is part of the planned Buffalo Dunes Wind Project, which has the potential to be a 405-megawatt wind farm and a $600 million development. Per the agreement, . . .
Wind farm location draws ire
Some local officials feel environmental advocates have gotten in the way of economic development in Finney County, with regard to a wind farm project that is taking off in Grant and Haskell counties. The 405-megawatt wind farm, known as the Buffalo Dunes Wind Project, is being developed by Lenexa-based TradeWind Energy and is slated for construction in mid-March, pending final confirmation on power purchasing that’s still in the works, according to company officials. In Finney County, TradeWind plans to build . . .
Kansas Supreme Court holds no takings claims for prohibition of commercial wind energy conversion systems but leaves open possibility of Commerce Clause claims
This case arises out of the plaintiffs’ desire to construct wind farms on their property in the county of Wabaunsee. The county had so specific zoning regulations regarding wind farms except that any structure above a certain height—presumably the height of a wind turbines—would require a conditional use permit. Thus, to resolve the issue, the Board of County Commissioners issued a temporary moratorium on the construction of wind farms with an exception for issuance of a conditional use permit. This . . .
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 . . .
