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 the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
County takes next step toward Reading Wind Farm
The Lyon County Commission signed two agreements with Reading Wind Energy, LLC related to an ongoing wind farm project in Reading during a meeting Thursday morning at the courthouse. The wind farm is a project of RES Americas and has been a point of discussion off and on for nearly a decade. Planning and Zoning Director Sam Seeley said the county needed to sign a Road Use Maintenance Agreement and Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement in order to move . . . Complete story »
County continues to hear both sides on wind energy project
ERIE – If the Neosho County Commission meetings were a Broadway show, they could raise funds through the box office. Audience numbers have been up substantially since debate began over the Neosho Ridge wind energy project, and the public forum portion of Friday’s agenda had to be relocated to the larger courtroom to accommodate the crowd. Opponents Shirley Dillinger-Estrada and her husband John Estrada moved to Neosho County two months ago from Arlington, Texas, before they found out about the . . . Complete story »
Some concerns over proposed wind farm
A proposed wind farm in Neosho County, Kansas is met with some opposition from area residents. A meeting was held by the residents to share their concerns. Concerns over what is called the “Neosho Ridge” wind project. The plan is to bring enough wind turbines to Neosho County to power more than 75,000 homes at full capacity. But some residents, feel, their concerns, are going unanswered. Dustie Elsworth, Meeting Organizer: “There was times I would ask a question and with . . . Complete story »
Commission agrees to discuss “overlay zone” to control wind develoment countywide
Prompted by a discussion of the County Planning Commission late last month, the Reno County Commission on Tuesday agreed to schedule a conversation next week on whether to create a countywide “overlay zone” that could be used to regulate future commercial wind farm developments. A consultant assisting the planning board in drafting a new Comprehensive Plan for the county previously suggested the mechanism for controlling wind and solar development, as well as looking at using it to regulate “more onerous” . . . Complete story »
Countywide wind regulation lacks push
The Reno County Planning Commission spent more than 45 minutes recently discussing how to approach regulating commercial wind farms in the county but ended up forwarding no recommendations to the Reno County Commission. Instead, the board will wait for the commission to give it direction if it wishes to pursue the issue. The idea of countywide zoning that would apply only to commercial wind and solar was suggested a few months ago when the county commission received a preliminary look . . . Complete story »
Debate on wind energy project continues
ERIE – Debate continued Friday at the Neosho County Commission meeting between opponents and supporters of the proposed Neosho Ridge wind energy project. As many as two dozen people attended and discussed the project for about 2 ½ hours. Some opponents said Apex Clean Energy, the company developing the project, was not forthcoming with information or was misleading. Opponent Dustie Elsworth said efforts have started for a petition against the project, including among residents near Stark. The Neosho Ridge project . . . Complete story »
Water, wind and fire have parts in Reno County Comprehensive Plan
Countywide zoning for renewable energy projects – including commercial wind and solar farms – along with imposing stricter flood zone regulations are among recommendations in a draft update to the Comprehensive Plan for Reno County. The 70-page plan also proposes the county create a unified fire district with a single fire chief, that it evaluate low-volume roads for closure and that it creates a “township maintenance plan” for prioritizing joint county/township road projects. The Reno County Commission, during a study . . . Complete story »
NextEra Energy Resources to open local offices, host open houses for new wind project
NextEra Energy Resources, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), is hosting two open house events and opening local offices for a prospective wind energy project in Nemaha County. The project, Soldier Creek Wind Energy Center, includes up to 120 wind turbines and is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and bring millions of dollars of economic impact to the area. “We are very excited about the Soldier Creek project,” said Spencer Jenkins, associate project manager for NextEra . . . Complete story »
Wind farm reps update county on project
ERIE – Representatives of a wind farm planned for southwest Neosho County met with county commissioners Thursday evening to update them on the project. Senior Development Manager Jade Scheele and Julianna Pianelle of Apex Clean Energy met with Neosho County commissioners and discussed agreements for road use and other aspects of the Neosho Ridge wind project. “We’re excited that the community has been so welcoming,” Scheele said. The project is planned for 40,000 acres between Thayer and Erie. She said . . . Complete story »
Fickle winds blow on wind farm project
The Diamond Vista Wind Farm, stretching from Roxbury to Dickinson County, received heavy approval in November, but the opinion of some has soured since then. Diamond Vista was originally financed by Tradewind Energy, LLC, but was acquired by Enel Green Power in early 2018. This will be the sixth Kansas wind farm owned by Enel, the most in the state. Diamond Vista will have 95 3.15 megawatt (MW) turbines, producing a total of 300 MW. “We’re right in the middle . . . Complete story »
