February 17, 2016
Kansas

Wind energy company eyes county

By PHYLLIS ZORN, Staff writer | Marion County Record | Feb 17, 2016 | www.marionrecord.com

Lenexa-based Tradewind Energy is eyeing installation of six meteorological towers in northern Marion County to gather preliminary data for a possible wind farm.

The towers would be scattered over a 15- by three-mile area and located near the intersections of Chisholm Trail and 360th Rd., Chisholm Trail and 330th Rd., Falcon and 350th Rd., Indigo and 330th Rd., Mustang and 340th Rd., and Remington and 350th Rd.

Kelly Cooper, spokeswoman for Tradewind Energy, said the meteorological towers are intended to test the feasibility of its proposed Diamond Vista wind project, which could span portions of Marion, Dickinson and McPherson counties.

The towers have no foundation and are guyed to the ground, Cooper said.

“Typically, they stay up at least a year, with some staying in place through the construction of the wind project,” Cooper said.

However, a wind project may or may not be developed in the area, Cooper said.

“Tradewind Energy is working to collect the data needed to assess the feasibility of a wind project in the area,” Cooper said. “The soonest construction could start would be 2017 or 2018.”

Meteorological towers will be installed as soon as all appropriate applications and permits are approved.

A public hearing on Tradewind’s request for a conditional use permit for the Diamond Vista Wind Project is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 2 at Marion Community Center

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/02/17/wind-energy-company-eyes-county/