August 28, 2015
Texas
Texas
On hold: County must be patient with wind farm expansion
By FERNANDO DEL VALLE, Staff Writer | Valley Morning Star | August 27, 2015 | www.valleymorningstar.com
By FERNANDO DEL VALLE, Staff Writer | Valley Morning Star | August 27, 2015 | www.valleymorningstar.com
RAYMONDVILLE – Willacy County has to wait for a new wind farm to turn over dollars.
E.ON Climate & Renewables plans to expand its second wind farm.
But construction will start about a year later than expected.
Yesterday, lead developer Rich Saunders told county commissioners the company plans to expand the wind farm from 100 turbines to 115 turbines in an area north of FM 186 and east of Interstate 69E near San Perlita.
But major construction will be delayed about a year as the company awaits the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration, Saunders said.
In a workshop, Saunders told commissioners the company must complete construction by 2017 to hold on to federal tax credits.
The news came as a blow to the county that faces a monthly $220,000 shortfall as a result of the closure of the Willacy County Correctional Center nearly six months ago.
“My goal is the same as yours. I want this project up as soon as possible,” Saunders said. “You want it on the books as fast as possible. I want it on the books as fast as possible.”
A complete version of this story can be found at www.MyValleyStar.com
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/08/28/on-hold-county-must-be-patient-with-wind-farm-expansion/