April 21, 2016
North Dakota

Another wind farm proposed for Stark and Hettinger Counties

By Dave Thompson | Prairie Public Broadcasting | April 21, 2016 | prairiepublic.org

The first wind farm hasn’t yet been built – but the developers of the Brady wind farm in Stark and Hettinger counties have proposed a second wind farm for that same area.

Brady II would be 150 megawatts. It would have up to 72 turbines.

The North Dakota Public Service Commission is requiring the developer to submit the proposed locations for the wind turbines at least 30 days before the public hearing.

“One of the things that’s come out in the last few hearings, where the public has been very concerned about what is the impact to participating landowners and non-participating landowners,” said Commissioner Brian Kalk. “What are the noise studies, and shadow flicker studies showing?”

Kalk says in the past, the PSC has wanted that information before the hearing, and set a guideline of about 10 days.

“Based on the hearings we’re having recently, I don’t think 10 days is enough,” Kalk said.

“I like the 30 days,” said PSC Chairman Julie Fedorchak. “It gives the public a lot of time to look at it. And it provides more certainty to the companies.”

Fedorchak says in one of the most recent cases, interveners asked for more time to look at documents connected with the wind farm proposal.

“It threw the company off,” Fedorchak said.

The new wind farm would cost $243 million to build. Kalk says the company has a contract with Basin Electric Power Cooperative for the electricity generated from the wind farm.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/04/21/another-wind-farm-proposed-for-stark-and-hettinger-counties/