Wind Power News: Iowa
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Wind turbine project causes stir in Worth County
WORTH, Iowa- A proposed turbine project is moving forward in Worth County and Southern Minnesota but residents have questions and concerns about the project. Mitchell County and Worth County receive what’s called TIF funds from the projects like wind turbines. Those funds are then used for infrastructure projects like a study for a proposed natural gas pipeline. But some community members said there are a number of issues with the turbines like the lack of regulations. That’s why they are . . . Complete story »
Worth County residents concerned about wind project hosting meeting in Grafton
GRAFTON | A community meeting organized by residents concerned with wind turbines in Worth County will be held later this week. The meeting us 7 p.m. Thursday at Grafton Community Center, 202 Sixth Ave. It will allow Worth County residents to discuss whether wind energy is needed, what regulations are in place and Invenergy’s alleged non-transparency with some property owners in the proposed farm, according to a news release. In February, the Worth County Board of Supervisors expressed support for . . . Complete story »
What’s up with wind towers?
Saratoga – Preliminary work has begun on the Saratoga Wind Farm that will have 33 wind towers when finished. They are being built by Madison Gas & Electric and will produce 66-megawatts of energy. It is expected to become operational in early 2019. MG&E built Rosiere Wind Farm in 1999 in Kewaunee County, Wis. It contains 17 wind turbines and stands 290 feet tall. Top of Iowa Wind Farm in Worth County, Iowa was built in 2008 and has 18 . . . Complete story »
Adair County supervisor’s meet in closed session Friday to discuss wind farms
(Greenfield) The Adair County Board of Supervisors’ will meet with legal counsel in closed session Friday morning regarding possible wind energy site regulations requested by a concerned group of Adair County residents. MidAmerican Energy Company is building two new wind farms in Adair County. The Arbor Hill and Orient projects include a total of 275 turbines that will produce up to 550 megawatts of wind generation capacity, enough to power 230,000 average Iowa homes. This project has sparked concern amongst . . . Complete story »
Ruling issued on wind energy lawsuit
A District Court Judge has issued a ruling in connection with a lawsuit filed against the Palo Alto County Board of Supervisors in late 2017. In a documents filed with the Palo Alto County Clerk of Court’s office, the Honorable District Court Judge Nancy L. Whittenburg ruled in favor of the Board of Supervisors in a lawsuit filed by seven Palo Alto County residents. The lawsuit originally filed by plaintiffs Bertha Mathis, Stephen Mathis, Susanne Reding, Thomas F. Stillman, Michael . . . Complete story »
Neighbors join forces to halt plan to build 275 wind turbines
Homeowners in Adair County are fired up over wind turbines. Residents said they want county officials to listen and take action. A group of neighbors joined forces to fight MidAmerican Energy’s plan to build at least 275 more wind turbines in Adair County. The construction is underway just south of Stuart. Adair residents argue that the projects diminish property values and pit neighbors against each other. The county’s board of supervisors held a special forum this week so the group . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine blade could be new local monument
It weighs 22,000 pounds, measures 193 feet long and eight feet in diameter at its base, and it could be a new local landmark. In an effort to make Newton more appealing and distinguishable to in-town visitors and passersby on Interstate 80, Bruce Showalter is proposing a TPI Composites-made wind turbine blade be used as a sculpture. The chairman of the Newton Hometown Pride Committee and housing director of Newton Housing Development Corporation brought forth the idea to city council . . . Complete story »
Utility’s push for more wind turbines is blowing up trouble with Madison County residents
DEXTER, Ia. – The battle playing out over a second crop of wind turbines that MidAmerican Energy is proposing near this small town is like many playing out across Iowa and the nation. In the home of the famed covered bridges of Madison County, the utility plans to stand up 52 turbines that will be as tall as skyscrapers – towering 490 feet. That’s led to a tug of war between those who believe that the whooshing, flashing and flickering from the . . . Complete story »
Crane operator killed in wind farm construction accident
POWESHIEK COUNTY, Iowa – An accident at an Iowa wind farm has left one person dead. A spokesperson for Blattner Energy–the contracted company building wind turbines for MidAmerican Energy at the North English wind farm in Poweshiek County–confirms a crane operator died as a result of an accident at a construction site. The specifics of the accident, including the cause, are currently unknown. Blattner Energy is cooperating with the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office and OSHA in this investigation. Complete story »
High court rejects latest plea to save Fairbank wind turbines
FAIRBANK – The Iowa Supreme Court has dealt another blow to three controversial wind energy turbines just east of Fairbank. The high court on Tuesday rejected a request from the turbine developers to review a district court order requiring the structures be removed by Dec. 9. Attorneys for turbine developers – Mason Wind, Dante Wind 6, Galileo Wind 1 and Venus Wind 4 – indicated in a separate district court filing that they have ceased electric production at the project and intend to . . . Complete story »
