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

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

County approves new wind farm 

Credit:  By ED PILOLLA, Staff writer | Marion County Record | Feb. 19, 2015 | marionrecord.com ~~

After more than 10 years of proposals and hearings, the wind farm between Aulne, Peabody, and Florence received final approval Tuesday from county commissioners.

A handful of people attended to oppose the conditional use permit (CUP), mainly the recent expansion of the wind farm south of US-50. But the commission’s 3-0 vote brings to rest the controversy over whether Windbourne Energy’s wind farm would be built in the prairie grasslands.

“It’s beautiful out there,” said Tom Britton, who lives near the project. “I don’t know why anyone would want to change it.”

The farm will include at least 73 turbines, depending on the proper spacing between the turbine towers, said Rex Savage of Windbourne Energy. An additional 20-25 turbines might be added to produce a maximum of 200 megawatts, Savage said.

At one time, 118 wind turbines had been proposed, but the number was reduced to provide proper spacing, which ensure greater energy capture.

The wind farm, which began leasing the land in 2009 and installed three turbine pads in 2013, must produce at least some energy by the end of 2016 to comply with tax credit laws, Savage said.

Savage has defended the wind farm for years against opponents, including a group of farmers that call themselves the Tallgrass Ranchers.

Before the commission’s vote Tuesday, Savage acknowledged the opposition has taken a toll.

“Frankly, I’m getting very tired of dealing with some of the folks in here,” Savage said. “I assure you the next (wind farm) won’t be in Marion County.”

Commissioner Dan Holub questioned the arguments made by those who oppose the wind farm.

“Grassland or towers, what’s it about?” Holub said. “I don’t see any consistency in the argument we’ve been hearing.”

The wind farm is located in a wind energy overlay district that was created by the county in 2004. It is bounded by 140th Rd. to the north, Pawnee Rd. to the west, and US-77 to the east. The southern boundary is 70th Rd. between Pawnee and Remington Rds. and 50th Rd. between Remington Rd. and US-77.

In other business:

Commissioners approved the expansion of the Florence Rock Quarry, which is owned by Dewy Stevens and operated by Harshman Construction.
The commission also contracted with Treanor Architects of Kansas City to provide a cost analysis of replacing the windows on the courthouse building. The windows, which need restoration and replacement, could cost as much $1.2 million to update. Each of the four sides of the building would likely take a year to complete. Commissioners said they might decide to fix the drafty windows on each of the sides of the courthouse every other year, depending on the final cost estimates. “It’s needed,” Commissioner Randy Dallke said. “I don’t think people understand how much it’s needed. I want it done right.” Vance Kelley of Treanor Architects said the city would be eligible for a 25 percent tax credit through the state historical society to upgrade the windows. Kelley’s report is expected to be completed by this summer.

Source:  By ED PILOLLA, Staff writer | Marion County Record | Feb. 19, 2015 | marionrecord.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