LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

News Watch Home

Split Public Service Commission approves Adams wind farm 

Credit:  By Nick Smith | Bismarck Tribune | October 9, 2013 | bismarcktribune.com ~~

A split Public Service Commission gave the green light Wednesday for a 150-megawatt wind farm project in Adams County.

The project is being pursued by Thunder Spirit Wind LLC and would contain up to 75 wind turbines near Hettinger. It had been delayed to allow for a series of hearings on the county level to address zoning issues.

Commissioner Randy Christmann was the three-member commission’s lone no vote after voicing concerns, including the effects of the project on ratepayers.

Commission Chairman Brian Kalk said the commission had originally scheduled a hearing in August, which was delayed.

“As the hearing date approached, it appeared … there were a number of issues,” Kalk said.

Those issues included the setbacks for the wind turbines, as well as landowner concerns over the impact the turbines would have on their land and quality of life.

Kalk said Adams County approved the project with setbacks of 2,640 feet from occupied structures.

“This is by far the most restrictive (setback) … the board has been involved in,” Kalk said.

He said the PSC typically uses a 1,400-foot setback as a rule of thumb for wind projects. Kalk added that for setbacks on projects, he’s in favor of letting the county determine what it thinks is appropriate.

The $300 million project is to take nine months to complete and construction is expected to begin later this year or in early 2014.

Christmann expressed concern over the possible impact the project could have on North Dakota ratepayers. He pointed to the fact that Thunder Spirit Wind hasn’t yet signed a power agreement with a customer for the generated power. If the power generated is sold to North Dakota customers it could impact ratepayers substantially, he said.

Christmann said Thunder Spirit Wind should “show how it fits” into the state’s energy picture.

He also cited legislation passed in 2007. The law set an objective of having 10 percent of the state’s energy production to come from renewable sources including wind by 2015.

“Clearly that 10 percent objective has been met and surpassed,” Christmann said.

Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said she believed the power generated by the wind farm likely would be used in the oil patch in the northwest part of the state, where power is in high demand. She said the 10 percent renewable energy objective wasn’t likely meant to be a set limit on such energy production.

“I don’t believe it was a floor or ceiling,” Fedorchak said. “I tend to think the company has done its work.”

Source:  By Nick Smith | Bismarck Tribune | October 9, 2013 | bismarcktribune.com

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon