October 27, 2016
Kansas

NextEra applies for second wind farm

Kiowa County Signal | Oct 25, 2016 | www.kiowacountysignal.com

The Pratt County Planning and Zoning Board received an application for another wind farm in Pratt County. The Board received the application from NextEra Energy on Oct. 18, said Pratt County Zoning Administrator Tim Branscom at the regular Monday Pratt County Commission Meeting.

The application covers an area of 40,000 acres that is about twice the size of the recently constructed NextEra Energy Ninnescah Energy wind farm in the southeast quadrant of the county.

A public hearing on the application will be held on Nov. 21. The county is required to send out notification cards for the meeting to all landowners and right now that comes to 6,215 notifications, Branscom said.

Hopefully, that number can be decreased when landowner addresses are verified. Notification has to be made 20 days before the public hearing but Branscom wants to get the notifications in the mail earlier if possible.

Cost of the mailings will run from $4,600 to $5,000. NextEra has indicated they would cover the entire cost of the mailings but the commissioners voted to pay 25 percent of the cost since it is such a large mailing.

The county paid for all the mailings on the first wind farm notification.

Jason Winkel, Pratt County landfill manager, has worked out a deal to get about 7,000 tons of concrete broken up at the landfill for $7 a ton. The total cost will be $49,000 plus an additional $3,000 for a relocation fee because the road department will also have concrete broken up by the same crew. The price is cheaper than a previous cost.

Once it is broken up, the concrete can be used for projects, including the roadway at the landfill that leads to the pit.

Winkel also wants to purchase a pallet of salt for the upcoming winter. A pallet costs about $820.

A snow blower needs repairs and blade replacement. Winkel will check to see if the 11-year-old blower can be repaired and will also price a new machine.

County Clerk Sherry Kruse said early voting is underway and voters have until noon on Monday, Nov. 7 to cast an early ballot at the county clerk’s office.

Commissioner Glenna Borho said Solutions With Action Together that took part in the national drug take back event on Oct. 20 at Walmart took in over 70 pounds of pills.

A similar event will be held in April.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/10/27/nextera-applies-for-second-wind-farm/