March 9, 2019
North Dakota

Bowbells locals voice support, concerns over potential wind farm

By Jack Springgate | KFYR-TV 5 | Mar 08, 2019 | www.kfyrtv.com

BOWBELLS, N.D. – Burke Wind, LLC has big plans to construct a wind farm in Burke County that could lead to more than 70 new wind turbines in the area.

The plan calls for up to 76 wind turbines, and a wind farm with a capacity of roughly 200 megawatts.

The 37-mile long transmission line would transport energy from the wind farm in Burke County to Basin Electric’s Tande Substation in Mountrail County.

Locals and officials alike lined came out to be heard and to listen.

This hot-button issue had the room divided.

Dennis Haugen, a land owner who has a wind turbine on his property, is advocating for the wind farm.

“You know, there’s talk about avian collisions and we’ve never seen dead birds. They’re good neighbors, clean, and in 10 years we’ve never had any problems,” said Haugen.

“The state is becoming more and more industrial all the time. It’s a small chunk of what we have left of true nature. You can sit and enjoy it without looking at buildings, or oil wells, or power lines, or especially power lines that you can see from so far away,” said Cody Beard, land owner against the wind farm.

Whether they were for or against, the North Dakota Public Service Commissioners say it’s important to get the opinion from the folks who will be directly affected by the wind farm.

“It’s not a 10-year, it’s not a 20-year, this is a long-term decision. It’s important for people to be heard and to be a part of the process,” said Brian Kroshus, public service commissioner.

“That’s why we come to the location of the area so we can hear from the people that are impacted the most and others who are impacted in that area,” said Julie Fedorchak, public service commissioner.

The public’s comments will go on the record as progress on the proposal continues.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/03/09/bowbells-locals-voice-support-concerns-over-potential-wind-farm/