Wind energy farms have been constructed in our area in the last five years. It is a clean and efficient way to generate power without the use of foreign oil.
And Goodhue County residents are all for the idea of it, but many of them are worried that a new proposed site is too close and too dangerous.
It just makes sense to to get into alternative energy.
On a rural farm site just outside of Kenyon, one company has a plan. That plan is to power more than 5,000 homes with wind.
John Daniels of Kenyon Wind, LLC says, “our goal is to put more 9 2.1 megawatt turbines. It will be enough, each to power more than 600 home each.”
The Kenyon Wind Company is currently working to get a draft permit for this site.
They estimate that the project will cost around 20-million dollars.
Todd Andrews of Kenyon Wind, LLC says, “it’s not something that can be done over night. It takes time to research where the wind is and to put all the pieces together.”
At the meeting tonight, Kenyon Wind along with an Excel Energy representative presented their latest information regarding the new project to the residents of Goodhue County.
But many residents think the Wind Farm could be a hazard to health and property value.
Chris Mallery, a Kenyon Township Resident says, “Lincoln Township in Wisconsin noted a 26-percent property value drop for properties located within a mile of the wind turbine.”
Kenyon Winds wants to install Suzlan Turbines, which are the largest of their kind in the country standing 402 feet in height, many residents believe this can be a major noise problem.
Mike Chase, a Kenyon Resident says, “they need to be sited appropriately where they are not at impact to safety or to noise or to any other affect out in rural Minnesota.
There are still many more steps in order to get approval from the state to go forward with the project.
But if it does go through, it will be the first commercial wind energy farm in Goodhue county.
By Chris Hrapsky
KTTC TV
15 February 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/02/16/largest-windmills-made-could-come-to-kenyon/