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 are the products of and copyrighted by the organizations or individuals noted. They are reproduced here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Kansas crop-duster lands safely after plane’s wing strikes wind tower
SEWARD COUNTY – A Kansas crop-duster was able to land a plane safely after an accident just before noon Monday in Seward County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 fixed wing single engine crop duster piloted by Craig L. Stratton, 61, Meade, was north bound near P Road and 4 Road crop-dusting a field. The right wing of the aircraft struck a windmill tower. The Aircraft impacted the ground and slid to a stop facing south. Stratton was not injured. . . . Complete story »
Community divide remains after Reno County denies permit for new wind farm
Members of the group Keep Reno Heavenly showed a mix of emotions after the Reno County Commission denied NextEra Energy a permit to build a wind farm in the southeastern part of the county. On one hand, all of its efforts had paid off. Members of the group had worked for months to organize and participate in public hearings, and they finally got the result they wanted – the proposed 220 megawatt wind farm with more than 80 turbines reaching 500 . . . Complete story »
NextEra vote falls short
From their opening comments during a special commission meeting Thursday, it was clear how individual members of the Reno County Commission were going to vote on the application by NextEra energy for a wind farm permit. It took more than 3 1/2 hours, however, to get to that moment. Commissioner Ron Hirst was the critical vote, leading to a defeat of the conditional use permit sought by the Florida developer. That’s because enough landowners within 1,000 feet of the land . . . Complete story »
Split vote OK’s wind farm plan
In a meeting that lasted more than 4 hours Monday, county planning and zoning commissioners approved Expedition Wind’s application for a conditional use permit by a 4-2 vote. Planning commission members Derek Belton, Dwight Flaming, Jim Schmidt, and Glenn Thiessen voted in favor of sending the plan to county commissioners after hearing company officials discuss the proposal and answer questions from commissioners. Duane Bair and William Kroupa voted against the plan. Expedition’s development plan passed on a 5-1 vote with . . . Complete story »
Wind farm referendum unlikely
Whether to allow more wind farms in the county is unlikely to be decided by voters, county commissioners learned Monday. County counselor Brad Jantz said any petition seeking an election could be ruled inappropriate. “We have the ability to have zoning in the county,” he said. “The county already has a mechanism, so this becomes administrative not legislative.” And that, in turns, means any vote would have to be non-binding and could not conducted at the same time as a . . . Complete story »
Third wind farm hearing heard by county
The Marion County Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals had its third meeting Monday to consider recommending a conditional use permit to Expedition Natural Renewal Solutions. The first two meetings on June 3-4 provided ENRS officials time to discuss the reasons why a CUP should be granted, and also to provide those opposed the opportunity to state why it shouldn’t be granted. On the heels of the planning board’s recommendation, a lawsuit for a temporary restraining is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., . . . Complete story »
County finds protest petition on NextEra project valid
The Reno County Commission accepted a determination Tuesday that it will require a unanimous decision by their board to approve a permit for NextEra Energy’s proposed wind farm in Reno County. That after a consultant and county staff established that owners of close to half the property abutting land that would house turbines for the proposed wind farm had filed a successful protest petition on the project. The commission vote on NextEra’s conditional use permit application remains set for a . . . Complete story »
Pilot car driver extends olive branch after Phillips Co. incidents
PHILLIPSBURG – Oversize wind turbine loads coming through the area and their related problems united virtually the entire population of Phillips County in opposition to dangerous conditions and major hassles caused by them starting around five years ago. With around 4,000 such loads passing through the county in the past few years (so says the Kansas Department of Transportation), massive traffic tie-ups, destruction of roadway infrastructure and delayed travel times have been among the problems. On top of everyone’s list, however, . . . Complete story »
Neosho County, Kansas commission approves wind farm project
NEOSHO COUNTY, Kan. – The Neosho County, Kansas has been discussing a wind farm proect for more than a year. During that time, there’s been a lot of residents who have voiced their concern over safety and how close the turbines would be to their properties. But, there’s also been a lot of support for the project from residents who are excited about the economic boost it could bring. The process has also been slowed down because two commissioners have . . . Complete story »
Committee moves to ban wind farms in Sedgwick County
Sedgwick County moved toward banning wind farms on Thursday. Commercial wind developers won’t be able to get a permit in Sedgwick County if the County Commission and City Council approve a zoning code change recommended by the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission. “No commercial wind generators would be allowed in Sedgwick County based upon the aviation industry in Sedgwick County and airports and because of potential for future development,” said Bob Dool, an at-large member of the planning commission. Solar farms . . . Complete story »
