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.
Wichita-area renewable energy production paused as officials push for regulations
What appears to be a plan to harvest clean energy in the Wichita area has been shut down – at least for the next 6 months – while county commissioners gather more information. But a bill introduced in the Kansas House might make the delay a moot point. No one has applied for wind or solar farm permits in Sedgwick County, and most of the county is off-limits because of a buffer around airports. But several landowners on the outskirts of Wichita . . . Complete story »
Some residents raise questions on Reno County wind farm
Residents of southeast Reno County will hold a “neighbor to neighbor” meeting tomorrow evening at St. Joseph- Ost parish hall to discuss the NextEra Pretty Prairie wind farm. NextEra submitted the request for a conditional use permit last week, which the Reno County planning and zoning commission will review before submitting a reccomendation to the county commission later this spring. The county commission must pass the proposal by a two-thirds vote. “Along with the setbacks we feel are inadequate, we . . . Complete story »
Kansas bill would protect homeowners from wind farms
A House Bill requiring distance between wind farms and residential areas is headed to a committee hearing in Topeka this week. House Bill 2273 says there must be at least a mile and a half between wind farms and surrounding homes. The bill offers protections that some people in Reno County say they’ve been fighting for for over a year. “It’s very quiet out here. We just don’t have a lot of noise. These turbines when they are spinning actually . . . Complete story »
Kansas bill setting minimum setbacks for commercial wind turbines to have hearing next week
Legislation that would set minimum setbacks for commercial wind turbines in Kansas at 1 ½ miles from residential homes is scheduled to be heard by a House committee next week. Anyone wishing to submit written comments on the bill, however, must notify officials by 9 a.m. Friday. HB 2273, dubbed the Wind Generation Permit and Property Protection Act, was introduced by Rep. Randy Garber, R-Sabetha, on Tuesday and referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications. That committee, chaired . . . Complete story »
Second wind farm could be coming to Marion Co.
As the wind farm project to the north nears completion, a second wind farm to the south is gaining momentum, and could reasonably get underway in the fall, according to information presented at the Marion County Commission meeting on Monday. The wind farm to the south was initially started up by Rex and Carol Savage of Florence about a decade ago and was known as Windbourne Energy. In addition, SunWind, owned by Joe Craft, also was on board. The assets . . . Complete story »
County Board delays wind farm moratorium decision
For multiple weeks now, the concerned citizens of Nemaha County have been attending the County Commission meetings on a weekly basis, with the hopes of learning new information on the proposed wind farm in Nemaha County. At the Monday, Feb. 11, meeting, Commissioner Gary Scoby informed those present that they are still in negotiations with NextEra Energy on a term sheet. “We hope to have something by Feb. 19,” Scoby said. “Hopefully.” The commissioners did, however, address the topic of . . . Complete story »
Sedgwick County issues moratorium on commercial wind, solar energy systems
Sedgwick County commissioners approved a temporary ban this week on the development of commercial wind farms and solar energy systems in the county. The moratorium buys the county time to consider whether new regulations are needed. Current zoning laws do not include specific rules for a large-scale wind or solar development. Applications for those type of energy sources would be considered in the conditional use permit process. “This [moratorium] would not impact your smaller-scale solar and wind use,” said assistant . . . Complete story »
Sedgwick County will have a moratorium on wind farm applications
Sedgwick County commissioners have approved a six-month moratorium on applications for wind and solar power projects. Commission chairman David Dennis called for the moratorium after attending a Reno County meeting last year that resulted in approval for a wind farm project. He said he left that meeting with more questions than answers, and he said Sedgwick County does not have a set of rules for any kind of alternative energy projects. He said a moratorium will give county staff time . . . Complete story »
Hays: Grassland impacted by development
The last two Southeast Kansas Audubon meetings have featured representatives of Apex Clean Energy speaking about wind farms. To balance that, the organization brought in someone Tuesday night not affiliated with a for-profit company to talk about wind energy. Jim Hays has worked 12 years as conservation projects coordinator for the non-profit The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Before that he worked for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism for 30 years and was once the chief of the ecological . . . Complete story »
Bats facing killoffs from wind turbines, disease
Wind turbines are thought of as environment-friendly sources of energy, but for bats, they are a death trap. Amanda Adams, instructor of biology at Fort Hays State University, talked to a capacity crowd Monday night about the plight of the bats during a FHSU Science Cafe presentation titled “Bats: The Rock Stars of the Night.” Adams said bats are being killed by the millions by wind turbines. Curious creatures, the bats are drawn to the turbines, where they are either . . . Complete story »
