Wind Power News: North Dakota
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.
State approves deal with Hydro
The unanimous approval this week by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission of a 15-year, 250-megawatt power purchase deal between Minnesota Power and Manitoba Hydro further solidifies the building of the province’s next hydroelectric dam, Premier Greg Selinger said Friday. “It means we’ve got to build Keeyask now, and it means that we’ve got a customer,” Selinger said. “It’s a great story.” The Minnesota state regulator approved the power purchase agreement on Thursday, a deal that was first announced four years . . .
State OKs agreement between Minnesota Power, Manitoba Hydro
State regulators will allow Minnesota Power to buy carbon-free hydroelectricity for 15 years from Manitoba Hydro. The contract will begin in 2020. The 250 megawatt power purchase will support Minnesota Power resource planning goals of more efficiency, flexibility and diversity while lessening its dependence on coal and lowering emissions from its generation fleet, the division of ALLETE Inc. said in a news release. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s endorsement “demonstrates that cooperation in energy supply and transmission planning can cross . . .
South Dakota wind projects limited by scant electrical grids
North Dakota is expected to add hundreds of megawatts of wind energy this year, while development has slowed to a near stop in South Dakota. The difference seems to be the availability of high-voltage power lines to ship the power to cities that need it. South Dakota has more than 30,000 megawatts of proposed wind energy projects in the queue, according to the American Wind Energy Association, but a state association director said he’s received no indication from developers that . . .
The plight of the pronghorn
It’s been three years – the fall of 2008 – since North Dakota has had a pronghorn antelope season. Hunters won’t know if there will be a season this fall until after aerial surveys in July, but the numbers going in aren’t good. After three brutal winters going into this year, the last thing the pronghorns needed was another one. The mild winter North Dakota has been witnessing may be just what the doctor ordered in terms of helping the . . .
Make wind towers more safe for birds
When the federal government charged seven oil companies with killing migratory birds during drilling operations in North Dakota, critics cried foul. Or was it fowl? In any event, the critics had a point. When the justice department makes a federal case out of 28 dead birds found in oil pits while ignoring the hundreds of thousands of birds killed by wind towers, something’s not right. But the critics are wrong when they say society should respond by cutting oil companies . . .
Turbines destroy the quiet
We will eventually get over leaving Grand Prairie, but we will never get over having lived there. My wife and I loved two particular features of the North Dakota landscape – its open vistas and what we came to call its Great Silence, agreeing that our new home would need to be rich in both those qualities. We purchased a farmstead northeast of Valley City, N.D., in Grand Prairie Township. The vistas were panoramic; the silence was great. My wife . . .
Wind farm planned for Morton and Mercer
A Minnesota energy developer announced plans to build a 100-megawatt wind farm that will straddle Morton and Mercer counties. Allete Clean Energy filed a letter of intent with the North Dakota Public Service Commission on Monday. The company estimates that the project will cost $200 million, depending on the final design and turbine selection, according to its letter. Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer said that he was not expecting the company’s announcement, but was not surprised to learn of it. . . .
Lake Region State to seek approval for wind turbine, tower near campus
Lake Region State College will seek approval Tuesday from the North Dakota Public Service Commission to build a 1.5-megawatt wind turbine/tower near its Devils Lake campus. The project, which likely will exceed $4 million, will serve as a training tool for the school’s wind turbine technician program as well as provide the campus with some of its electricity needs. “It’s a critical piece for our program,” said Doug Darling, LRSC vice president of instructional services. Currently, the school provides hands-on . . .
Burleigh OKs permit for wind project
Burleigh County commissioners approved a special use permit for a 36-tower Nextera Energy wind project in the rural Wilton area. The approval came on a 4-1 vote Thursday, against the wishes of the Crofte Township Board. Commissioner Mark Armstrong voted no. A Public Service Commission permit for the project is still pending. The city planning staff recommended the permit because it met county ordinance standards. In the southeast corner of the project, one tower was struck from the plan and . . .
Possible wind turbine construction concerns Baldwin homeowner
Tomorrow Burleigh County Commissioners will be voting whether to approve a special use permit that could allow wind turbines to be built in northern Burleigh County. If the wind turbines are built, three of them will be about 1,700 feet away from Baldwin resident Marc Laurie`s home. Laurie is concerned the turbines will lower his property value. He`s also worried about the shadow flicker and noise that comes with the turbines. He says he moved to Baldwin because he enjoys . . .
