October 14, 2006
Kansas
Kansas
Gamesa’s Commercial Wind Energy Project resolution regulations were recently passed at a Board of McPherson County Commissioners meeting.
Gamesa is considering the usage of 8,000 acres in McPherson County for the construction of a wind farm.
Angela Krummel-Buzard, McPherson’s planning and zoning administrator, reassured the commissioners of the proper procedures for prescribed burning in case a fire breaks out on the wind farm.
A review of the resolution was needed for further questioning and to discuss two recent changes to the resolution.
Steph Wiley, Gamesa’s director of development, said Gamesa has several pending projects. She said the corporation has not made a decision on submitting a conditional-use permit for McPherson County.
Wiley said Gamesa will not submit the permit for the meantime, because it is in the process of evaluating the project.
She said Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado are also being considered for wind farm construction, but no preferred locations have been chosen.
McPherson County is still being considered, but if the corporation does decide to submit a permit, it won’t be until 2007.
“We are still very interested in the area,” Wiley said.
Krummel-Buzard said the county is not sure whether an application will be permitted. She also said if the corporation decides to submit an application to the Board of McPherson County Commissioners it can also table the decision, which could take three to four months and the construction of the wind farm could be in effect within a year.
According to Wiley, Gamesa must obtain a power purchase agreement if it decides to build a wind farm.
“We have to take in account all the projects we are evaluating,” Wiley said.
By Lisa Lucero, Sentinel Staff Writer
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/10/14/county-wind-farm-project-moves-ahead/