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Wind Power News: Iowa
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Invenergy threatens to sue Floyd County over proposed limits on wind projects
Amendments to the ordinance regulating the construction of wind energy systems, including one that would limit the number of wind turbines to 70 total in Floyd County, could lead to legal action against the County. The so-called “poison pill” amendment, proposed by Supervisor Jim Jorgensen, includes the 50 wind turbines already operated by MidAmerican Energy south of Charles City. It’s one of several amendments offered by Jorgensen and fellow Supervisor Dennis Keifer that would create an ordinance vastly different from . . . Complete story »
State sues company accused of dumping wind-turbine blades
The state of Iowa is suing a Washington-state company and its executives for allegedly dumping tons of old wind-turbine blades around Iowa, in violation of the state’s solid-waste laws. The lawsuit alleges that over the past seven years, Global Fiberglass Solutions has failed to properly dispose of decommissioned wind-turbine blades and stockpiled them at multiple locations across Iowa. The lawsuit, filed in Iowa District Court for Jasper County, seeks payment of civil penalties and a court injunction to prevent any . . . Complete story »
Moratorium on wind farm development in Floyd County extended
While a revised ordinance regulating the construction of wind turbines in Floyd County is not a done deal yet, the Board of Supervisors has extended the moratorium on accepting and/or approving any applications or permits for any development of wind farms. The moratorium was set to expire October 1st, which is eight days before Supervisors are scheduled to consider the third and final reading of the wind turbine ordinance that would reset the regulations for placement and construction. The County’s . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine fire in Mechanicsville could cost farmer millions
The damage left behind is the responsibility of the land owner. A farm in Mechanicsville must clean up its third wind turbine fire in less than a year and a half. Lightning strikes caused all three. Now the farm’s owners are trying to figure out what’s next. A Cedar County ordinance requires wind turbines that aren’t producing energy must be taken down within the year. While the turbine’s owners have to take care of that, the damage left behind is . . . Complete story »
More wind turbines in Floyd County doubtful after ordinance amendments
Earlier this year, the Floyd County Board of Supervisors opted to bypass the recommendations of the EMS Advisory Council on an emergency medical services tax levy. Now, Supervisors have made similar moves in regards to amendments proposed by the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission on the County’s ordinance regulating the construction of wind turbines. After almost four hours wasn’t enough time to finish public comments on the issue July 29th, the Board continued the public hearing Tuesday (08.06) night at . . . Complete story »
Iowa farmer regrets signing wind turbine lease after both turbines on her land burned to the ground
A couple of hours before the final BOS vote on the WECS on Wednesday, May 29, we received an email from a concerned lady in Iowa who has – well, had – two wind turbines on their farm and asked us to share their story. One turbine is still there, but it’s a non-functional burned out husk as of May 13. The other one also burned a year ago. Her name and exact location are being withheld because more than . . . Complete story »
Ten Vestas turbines destroyed as deadly tornadoes hit US wind farms
Wind farms in the Midwestern US state of Iowa took direct hits from a spate of tornadoes, destroying at least six turbines owned by utility MidAmerican Energy and several others. Five wind turbines at MidAmerican’s Orient wind farm and one at its Arbor Hill wind farm, were impacted. Four more at the Prescott wind farm, owned by RPM Access, were also destroyed by tornadoes that swept through the region around 4pm local time on Tuesday. MidAmerican’s wind farms are in . . . Complete story »
Tornado topples wind turbines in Iowa
The National Weather Service has confirmed at least an EF-3 tornado tore through Iowa, toppling massive wind turbines in its path. The wind turbines were located near the town of Greenfield, Iowa, which took a direct hit. While the preliminary report says it was an EF-3 tornado, the NWS office says that ranking could change, “Additional damage evaluation will continue over the next several days and results are subject to change.” According to our sister station, WHO13, several 250-foot* wind . . . Complete story »
Wind towers crumpled after Iowa wind farm suffers rare direct hit from powerful twister
A wind farm in southwest Iowa suffered a direct hit from a powerful tornado that crumpled five of the massive, power-producing towers, including one that burst into flames. But experts say fortunately such incidents are rare. Video of the direct hit on the wind farm near Greenfield, Iowa, showed frightening images of the violent twister ripping through the countryside, uprooting trees, damaging buildings and sending dirt and debris high into the air. Several of the turbines at MidAmerican Energy Company’s . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines can jam weather radar
By now, I’m sure you’re all aware of the devastating tornado that tore through Adams County yesterday, destroying multiple wind turbines, carrying blades and other turbine debris hundreds of feet into the air, and causing at least one turbine to catch fire and burn. Witnesses have stated turbine blades and debris were strewn across a large area. The real tragedy, of course, was that multiple people in Greenfield lost their lives in this tornado. I’m sure all of you will . . . Complete story »
