April 17, 2008
Kansas

Wind farm company requests waiver

The developer of a proposed Ellis County wind farm has re-initiated the process of building the wind-energy complex in the county.

Hays Wind today filed a request to the county commission requesting a waiver of the one-year waiting period for consideration of the proposed wind farm. The waiting period came into play after last year’s rejection of the plan by the Ellis County Commission.

Hays Wind project manager Krista Gordon said the latest request was well-researched.

“We’re submitting a large binder of extensive info to the county clerk, including a letter requesting a waiver, to the county commissioners,” Gordon said.

While Gordon declined further comment, she did say copies of the request and information are available upon request.

“All they have to do is send us an e-mail to hayswind@gmail.com, and we’ll send them a copy of the request,” she said.

Recently, Hays Wind, whose parent company is Madrid-based Iberdrola, said it has considered two alternative locations within Ellis County, on top of the hotly contested location just southwest of Hays.

Commissioners Vernon Berens and Dennis Pfannenstiel voted to approve the project in September, but because a protest petition was filed by project opponents, a unanimous vote was requested for passage. Commissioner Perry Henman’s negative vote halted the project and initiated the one-year waiting period.

By Brandon Worf