Resource Documents: Siting (102 items)
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Act relating to the siting and operation of certain wind energy conversion facilities
Author: Iowa State Senate
3. a. A wind energy conversion facility shall be sited at the following distances:
(1) No less than two and one-half times the total height of a wind turbine to be constructed on a proposed facility or five thousand feet, whichever is greater, from any existing abutting dwelling or nonparticipating property.
(2) No less than one and one-tenth times the total height of a wind turbine to be constructed on a proposed facility or five hundred feet, whichever is greater, from any existing overhead utility line, electric substation, public road right-of-way, railroad right-of-way, or unoccupied structure. …
4. a. Prior to the siting of a proposed wind energy conversion facility, the owner of the proposed facility shall notify the owner or operator of any registered or licensed tower used for emergency services communications which is located within a five-mile radius of the proposed location.
b. A wind energy conversion facility shall be sited at a location which does not interfere with any existing emergency services communication equipment or systems. If the facility interferes with any such communication equipment or systems, the owner of the facility shall take all steps necessary to mitigate the effects of the interference.
5. Prior to the siting of a proposed wind energy conversion facility, the owner of the proposed facility shall file a decommissioning plan with the county recorder of the county in which the proposed facility will be located. If the proposed facility will be located within two miles outside the corporate limits of a city, the owner of the proposed facility shall also file the plan with the city clerk of the city. The plan shall be accompanied by a bond or an irrevocable letter of credit in an amount sufficient to cover the costs of removal of the facility. This subsection shall not apply to a wind energy conversion facility owned or operated by a rate-regulated public utility.
6. A wind energy conversion facility shall be presumed abandoned if the facility fails to operate or be staffed for more than twenty-four consecutive months without generating energy. The owner of the abandoned facility shall be responsible for the removal of the facility, including the removal of infrastructure four feet below ground level.
7. This section does not prohibit a local authority from imposing additional or more restrictive regulations or requirements relating to the siting or removal of wind energy conversion facilities, except to the extent such regulations or requirements conflict with this section or any other provision of law.
8. This section does not prohibit a landowner from waiving any requirements under this section by conveying an easement or other property interest. …
Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 476.50A Wind energy conversion facilities —— connection with electric distribution system.
1. A wind energy conversion facility, as defined in section 476C.1, which has a nameplate generating capacity greater than five hundred kilowatts shall not connect with the electric distribution system unless authorized by the board in a contested case proceeding pursuant to chapter 17A. The board shall set the case for hearing and give such notice thereof as it deems appropriate. The board shall, as part of its review, consider engineering studies conducted by affected public utilities.
2. This section shall not apply to a wind energy conversion facility owned or operated by a rate-regulated public utility.
EXPLANATION
This bill establishes new Code sections 476.50 and 476.50A, relating to the siting and operation of certain wind energy conversion facilities.
New Code section 476.50 provides certain siting requirements for wind energy conversion facilities which have a nameplate generating capacity greater than 100 kilowatts. The bill provides that it is the intent of the general assembly to: support the establishment and growth of renewable energy in Iowa through common sense regulations that ensure fairness; prevent regulatory manipulation efforts by unregulated entities; and encourage statewide uniform standards for the siting and development of wind energy conversion facilities in Iowa. The bill provides that it is not the intent of the general assembly to negatively affect renewable energy generation for private generation customers, rate-regulated public utilities, municipally owned utilities, or rural electric cooperatives.
The bill provides that a facility shall be sited at a distance no less than the greater of two and one-half times the total height of a wind turbine to be constructed on a proposed facility, as described in the bill, or 5,000 feet from any existing abutting dwelling or nonparticipating property, and at a distance no less than the greater of one and one-tenth times the total height of a wind turbine or 500 feet from any existing overhead utility line, electric substation, public road right-of-way, railroad right-of-way, or unoccupied structure. The bill includes definitions for “abutting dwelling”, “nonparticipating property”, “public road right-of-way”, “railroad right-of-way”, and “unoccupied structure”.
The bill provides that prior to the siting of a proposed facility, the owner of the proposed facility shall notify the owner or operator of any registered or licensed emergency services communications tower located within a five-mile radius of the proposed location. A facility shall be sited at a location which does not interfere with any existing emergency services communication equipment or systems. If the facility interferes with any such equipment, the owner of the facility shall take all necessary steps to mitigate the interference.
The bill provides that prior to the siting of a proposed facility, the owner of the proposed facility shall file a decommissioning plan with the county where the proposed facility will be located, and specified cities if applicable.
The plan shall be accompanied with a bond or irrevocable letter of credit in an amount sufficient to cover the costs of removal of the facility. This requirement does not apply to a facility owned or operated by a rate-regulated public utility.
The bill provides that a facility shall be presumed abandoned and shall be removed by the owner, including the removal of infrastructure four feet below ground level, if the facility fails to operate or be staffed for more than consecutive months without generating energy.
The bill provides that it does not prohibit local authorities from imposing additional or more restrictive requirements relating to the siting or removal of facilities, unless such requirements conflict with the bill or any other provision of law. The bill also provides that it does not prohibit a landowner from waiving any requirements of the bill with respect to siting.
The bill provides that it does not apply to wind energy conversion facilities existing on or before January 1, 2024, or facilities the construction of which is begun prior to January 1, 2024, and is scheduled for completion by January 1, 2025, as described in the bill. The Iowa utilities board may grant additional time for completion of such a facility for a period of up to 12 months upon a showing of good cause.
The bill provides that it does not apply to the repowering of a wind energy conversion facility existing on or before January 1, 2024, provided that the repowering does not violate the siting distance requirements contained in the bill.
The bill provides that the board may adopt rules to implement Code section 476.50.
New Code section 476.50A provides that wind energy conversion facilities which have a nameplate generating capacity of greater than 500 kilowatts shall not connect with the electric distribution system unless authorized by the board pursuant to a contested case proceeding, after notice and a hearing. In doing so, the board shall consider engineering studies conducted by affected public utilities. Code section 476.50A does not apply to facilities owned or operated by rate-regulated public utilities.
Download original document: “An Act relating to the siting and operation of certain wind energy conversion facilities”
Some project specs in Iowa: area, infrastructure, foundations
Author: RPM Access
| Project Name | Top of Iowa Wind Farm |
| Developer | Midwest Renewable Energy Corporation and Zilkha Renewable Energy |
| Owner | Entergy Corporation and Shell Wind Corporation |
| Contructor | M.A. Mortenson |
| Project Size | 81 MW |
| Location | Approx 3 miles east of Town of Joice, Worth County, Iowa |
| Site Area | Approx 5,900 acres of cropland consisting of 49 separate parcels of land [73 acres/MW] |
| Generating Equipment | 89 NEG Micon 900 kW turbines on 237 foot tall tubular towers |
| Balance of Plant Facilities | 21.8 miles of underground electric and data collection cable, 10.4 miles of overhead electric cable, 16 miles of gravel service roads, 2 permanent MET towers, one 161 kV substation, and one operation and maintenance building |
| Foundation (each) | 7 ft deep, 42 feet wide; 188 cu yards of concrete; 25,713 lbs of reinforcing steel |
| Job Creation | Approx 95,300 person-hours (or 75 people for 8 months) during construction; 4-6 long-term jobs |
| Local County Taxes | Approx $13.4 Million over 25 years |
| Power Purchaser | Alliant Energy of Madison Wisconsin |
| Ground Breaking | April, 2001 |
| Commercial Operation | November, 2001 |
| Project Name | Top of Iowa II Wind Farm |
| Developer | Midwest Renewable Energy Corporation |
| Owner | Iberdrola Renewable Energies |
| Constructor | Wanzek |
| Size | 80 MW |
| Location | Approx 3 miles west of the Town of Kensett, Worth County, Iowa |
| Site Area | Approx 6,089 acres of cropland consisting of 60 separate parcels of land [76 acres/MW] |
| Generating Equipment | 40 Gamesa G87 2MW turbines on 253 foot tall tubular towers |
| Balance of Plant Facilities | 14.2 miles of underground electric and data collection cable, 8.5 miles of gravel service roads, 1 permanent MET towers, sharing of the Top of Iowa Wind Farm 161 kV substation and a single O&M Building |
| Foundation (each) | Approx 430 cu yards of concrete; 34 tons of reinforcement steel |
| Job Creation | Approx 96,000 person-hours (or 75 people for 8 months) during construction: 4-6 long-term operational |
| Power Purchasers | Wisconsin Public Power and Madison Gas and Electric |
| Local County Taxes | Approx $23.2 Million over 25 years |
| Ground Breaking | April, 2007 |
| Commercial Operation | February, 2008 |
| Project Name | Top of Iowa III Wind Farm |
| Developer | Midwest Renewable Energy Corporation |
| Owner | Madison Gas and Electric Company |
| Constructor | Wanzek |
| Size | 29.7 MW |
| Location | Approx 3 miles west of the Town of Kensett, Worth County, Iowa |
| Site Area | Approx 1,332 acres of cropland consisting of 10 separate parcels of land [45 acres/MW] |
| Generating Equipment | 18 Vestas 1.65 MW turbines on 260 foot tall tubular towers |
| Balance of Plant Facilities | 6.2 miles of underground electric and data collection cable, 3.8 miles of gravel service roads, 1 permanent MET towers and sharing of the Top of Iowa Wind Farm 161 kV substation |
| Foundation (each) | Approx 390 cu yards of concrete; 30 tons of reinforced steel |
| Job Creation | Approx 36,000 person-hours (or 25 people for 6 months) during construction; 1-2 long-term operational |
| Local County Taxes | Approx $10.3 Million over 25 years |
| Ground Breaking | April, 2007 |
| Commercial Operation | October, 2007 |
| Project Name | Barton II Wind Farm |
| Developer | Midwest Renewable Energy Corporation |
| Owner | Iberdrola Renewable Energies |
| Constructor | Wanzek |
| Size | 80 MW |
| Location | Approx 6 miles east of the Town of Kensett, Worth County, Iowa |
| Site Area | Approx 8000 acres of cropland consisting of over 50 separate parcels of land [100 acres/MW] |
| Generating Equipment | 40 Gamesa G87 2 MW turbines on 260 foot tall tubular towers |
| Balance of Plant Facilities | 12 miles of underground electric and data collection cable, 10.2 miles of gravel service roads, 1 permanent MET towers, a single 161 kV substation shared with Barton and a single shared O&M Building |
| Foundations [each] | Approx 450 cu yards of concrete; 34 tons of reinforcement steel |
| Job Creation | Approx 96,000 person-hours (or 75 people for 8 months) during construction; 5-6 long-term operational |
| Local County Taxes | Approx $30 Million over 25 years |
| Ground Breaking | May, 2008 |
| Commercial Operation | June, 2009 |
| Project Name | Elk Wind Farm |
| Project Owner | Elk Wind Energy LLC |
| Project Developer | RPMA Wind Development LLC |
| Project Size | 41 MW |
| Project Location | West of town of Greeley in Elk Township, Delaware County, Iowa |
| Project Site Area | Approximately 3,367 acres of gently rolling and open farmland where corn and soy beans are the dominant crops [82 acres/MW] |
| Proposed Generating Equipment | Between 27 – 1.5 MW to 17 – 2.4 MW turbines on 80 meter tubular towers [17 – 2.5 MW actually erected] |
| Proposed Balance of Plant Facilities | Approximately 9.7 miles of underground electric and data collection cable, 5.4 miles of gravel service roads, 14 entrances, 1 permanent MET tower, a single 69 kV substation, and a single operations and maintenance building |
| Expected Ground Breaking | May 1, 2011 |
| Expected Commercial Operation | Dec 31, 2011 |
| Project Name | Winnebago Wind Farm |
| Developer | Midwest Renewable Energy Corporation |
| Owner | Iberdrola Renewable Energies |
| Constructor | Wanzek |
| Size | 20 MW |
| Location | Approx 2 miles south of the Town of Thompson, Winnebago County, Iowa |
| Site Area | Approx 2000 acres of cropland consisting of over 12 separate parcels of land [100 acres/MW] |
| Generating Equipment | 10 Gamesa G87 2MW turbines on 260 foot tall tubular towers |
| Balance of Plant Facilities | Approx 3 miles of underground electric and data collection cable, 2.5 miles of gravel service roads, 1 permanent MET towers, a single 69kV substation and a single shared O&M Building |
| Foundation (each) | Approx 450 cu yards of concrete; 34 tons of reinforcement steel |
| Job Creation | Approx 24,000 person-hours (or 38 people for 4 months) during construction; 1-2 long-term operational |
| Local County Taxes | Approx $7.5 Million over 25 years |
| Power Purchaser | Dairyland Power Cooperative |
| Ground Breaking | May, 2008 |
| Commercial Operation | September, 2008 |
Influence of wind turbines on radio astronomical observations in Irbene
Author: Bezrukovs, Dmitrijs
[abstract] The reflection and diffraction of external communication and navigational transmitters from tall constructions and moving blades of wind turbines produce some short-pulse additional electromagnetic interference strong enough to fully disturb radio astronomical observations. The problem of short-pulse electromagnetic interference is distinctive to all radio telescopes surrounded by wind turbines. This problem became significant for Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) after new wind park “Platene” [near Platene and Vede] of Winergy Ltd. was built in 2012 and radio telescopes RT-16 and RT-32 renovated and equipped with cryogenic high sensitive receivers. The paper deals with the analysis and evaluation of intensities and probabilities of short-pulse interferences produced by wind park “Platene” and its possible impact on radio astronomical observations at VIRAC radio telescopes. (The distance from Irbene radio telescopes to [the wind turbines near] Platene is 19.7 km and to [those near] Vede is 8.2 km.)
Dmitrijs Bezrukovs
Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, Ventspils, Latvia
Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences 2016, N 2, P 68-74
DOI: 10.1515/lpts-2016-0015
Download original document: “Influence of wind turbines on radio astronomical observations in Irbene”
Farmers vs. lakers: Agriculture, amenity, and community in predicting opposition to United States wind energy development
Author: Bessette, Douglas; and Mills, Sarah
Abstract
Utility-scale wind energy is now the largest source of renewable electricity in the US. Wind energy’s continued growth remains contingent upon finding adequate resource potential and transmission capacity, along with communities willing to host turbines. While previous research on the social acceptance of wind has relied predominantly on case studies, resident surveys, and reviews of development practices and strategies, here we use a new method. We use a wind contention survey of energy professionals (n = 46) to assess the contention associated with 69 existing wind farms in four US Midwest states and identify underlying characteristics, i.e., agricultural, land-use, and demographic characteristics, that may have predisposed communities to either support or oppose wind farm development. We then use publicly available data to parameterize and model those characteristics using wind farm contention as our dependent variable. Our analysis shows that a greater proportion of production-oriented farming and fewer natural amenities in a community are associated with reduced opposition to wind farm development. Additionally, and perhaps counterintuitively, communities with a greater percentage of residents that voted Republican in the 2016 Presidential election demonstrate less opposition. Rather than negating the need for employing best practices in community engagement, stakeholder development, and participatory decision-making processes, this study can help prepare developers for the type of reception that might await them in potential host communities.
Douglas L. Bessette, Department of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University, East Lansing
Sarah B. Mills, Graham Sustainability Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 72, February 2021, 101873
doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2020.101873
Download original document: “Farmers vs. lakers: Agriculture, amenity, and community in predicting opposition to United States wind energy development”
