April 4, 2012
Iowa

Wind farm questions still linger in county

By ANDREW POTTER - Staff Writer, Times-Republican, www.timesrepublican.com 4 April 2012

The new Vienna wind farm project west of Gladbrook appears to be on track to be operational by the end of the year, though one Marshall County official said a few more answers would help him out.

John Kunc, planning and zoning director with Marshall County, gave a report to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday and seemed displeased with the lack of cooperation from companies involved in the project including Mortenson Construction and Mid-American Energy.

Kunc said the exact number of wind turbines and where they are going has yet to be made official to the county.

“I have heard that we are now up to 50-some odd turbines,” Kunc said. “Whether that’s all in Marshall (County) or in Tama (County), they still haven’t clarified. It’s like trying to nail Jello to a wall. These guys will not tell us how many and I don’t know why.”

A few things are clear about the project. Kunc said the turbines are expected to be delivered in September and it must be constructed by Dec. 31 to receive the tax credits.

Kunc said once the work gets started it will move fast.

“One day, there won’t be anything,” Kunc said. “Three weeks later, it’s basically going to be complete.”

Due to public opposition of the project, Kunc said he will continue to monitor the progress of this wind farm.

“I’m keeping an extra careful eye on this whole project,” he said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/04/04/wind-farm-questions-still-linger-in-county/