Wind Power News: Kansas
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch 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.
Would-be developer wants zoning change overruled
A Wichita investment group hopes to have a zoning appeal ruling overturned, 2018 amendments to zoning regulations nullified, and collect more than $75,000 from the county. Roger Buller at Stonebridge Investments, LLC, filed suit Sept. 25 against Marion County board of zoning appeals. It is the latest step in Stonebridge’s attempt to install wind turbines in an area once planned for development by Rex Savage but later sold to Stonebridge and others. Conditional use permits were granted long ago for . . . Complete story »
Lawsuit over road maintenance even more likely
After months of impasse over the condition of Diamond Vista wind farm haul route roads, the county is apparently inching closer to filing a lawsuit against wind farm parent company Enel Green Power North America. Wichita lawyer Pat Hughes, hired by the county to handle actions against Enel, has had frequent closed-door meetings with county commissioners in recent weeks to discuss pending litigation. Hughes handles no other county business. No discussion has taken place in open meetings. For months, the . . . Complete story »
Eitzen, wind farm call truce
Expedition Wind and Peabody farmer Randall Eitzen have called a truce in a legal battle that has cost the county $20,981.94 in legal bills over a year and a half. County clerk Tina Spencer said additional bills are expected as a result of the legal battle over development of a wind farm in the county. Although the county has granted all conditional use permits needed by Expedition, building permits have not yet been issued. On Friday, both Eitzen and the . . . Complete story »
Commission agrees to look at creating wind development agreement template
The Reno County Commission agreed Tuesday to have staff research and develop a draft commercial wind development agreement that could be paired with zoning regulations still under consideration by the Reno County Planning Commission. Commissioner Ron Hirst suggested the move. “It seems to me like a company spending millions and millions of dollars would like to know early on what the basis of the development contract would be,” he said. “That way … it gets it started on so it . . . Complete story »
NextEra proposes $4.5 million over first 10 years
Marshall County Board of Commissioners plan to vote on five wind farm agreements with NextEra Energy at next Monday’s meeting. The planned vote was announced Monday, Sept. 21, after a 45-minute closed session to discuss matters of attorney-client privilege with the county’s wind farm special counsel, James Neeld, Kansas City, Mo. Complete story »
Wind regulation discussion generates some heat
After 4½ hours and 50 speakers, the Reno County Planning Commission recessed its public hearing on proposed wind energy regulations Thursday night to a date in mid-October. When the hearing resumes 4:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Reno County Public Works Building; however, no additional public comment will be taken. The board voted to close the public comment portion of the hearing after the last speaker concluded his comments at 8:51 p.m. While a number of speakers thanked and praised . . . Complete story »
Pretty Prairie wind farm lawsuit dismissed, allowing it to be appealed
The Pretty Prairie Wind lawsuit was dismissed by a Reno County judge on Monday after attorneys for the developer filed a motion asking to dismiss all claims in the suit except on an issue the district court already ruled on. The action effectively allows the corporation to appeal to a higher court an earlier ruling by District Judge Tim Chambers on a motion for summary judgment. It has 10 days to file a notice of appeal. Pretty Prairie Wind LLC, . . . Complete story »
Great Plains may get funds for road repair
OSWEGO – Labette County commissioners are looking at sharing with Great Plains Industrial Park a portion of increased fees collected in the future from overweight trucks carrying wind turbine parts. But a new fee schedule must be created to increase the current fee of $100 per overweight load that is hauled out of Great Plains to wind farm projects in the area, including Neosho Ridge Wind in Neosho County. Commissioners met with Brad Reams, Great Plains park director, Tim Peoples, property . . . Complete story »
Great Plains derailment damages track
A portion of newly updated rail system at Great Plains Industrial Park will have to be replaced again following a derailment in August. The Great Plains Development Authority board heard Thursday from the Great Plains park director and property manager about the derailment occurring Aug. 15 involving a Union Pacific train delivering wind turbine blades to the park, where the blades are stored by Transportation Partners & Logistics until wind energy companies are ready for them to be delivered. On . . . Complete story »
Evergy’s high-wire act
Evergy Inc. faces major power transformations – in its executive ranks and in how it will produce the electricity that more than 1.5 million customers in Kansas and Missouri count on. The Kansas City-based utility must find a new CEO to succeed Terry Bassham, who announced his retirement in late August. Bassham drove the $14 billion merger that formed Evergy and before that spent six years as CEO of predecessor Great Plains Energy Inc. In early August, the company rolled out . . . Complete story »
