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.
Wind farm construction traffic to avoid rebuilt 330th; Despite exemption, company may pay taxes
Impending wind farm construction in the northwest corner of the county won’t imperil a newly rebuilt 330th Rd., commissioners learned Monday. Nick Coil, a development manager for Lenexa-based Tradewind Energy Inc., told commissioners that Tradewind will avoid 330th Rd., other than to cross it at intersections. A $2.1 million project to fix the road is scheduled to finish by the end of the year, only a few months before the wind farm plans to start construction. Tradewind’s proposal will be . . .
County reviews plans for wind turbine project
Marion County commissioners could soon be looking at wind turbines going up in the northern third of the county when Tradewind Energy starts building. Known as the Diamond Vista Wind Project, multiple landowners are invited to a public hearing to consider a conditional-use permit hearing set for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Marion Community Center ballroom, 203 N. Third St. The number of wind turbines is estimated to be 150, according to the commission, which said the public meeting . . .
$525 million wind farm project stopped
Last Thursday District Court Judge William Mott ruled in favor of blocking the development of Argyle Creek Wind Farm, a 14,000 acre wind farm built in northern Sumner County. Times-Sentinel Newspapers reported that the farm would have consisted of 60 to 65, 500 foot wind turbines. Invenergy LLC, had reached agreements to lease the land from various land owners in the area. On December 7, of last year the Sumner County Planning Commission voted 5-3 to deny a zoning change . . .
Wind farm blocked in Sumner County
A Sumner County judge has blocked the development of a controversial wind farm northwest of Wellington, to the relief of many county residents. The company Invenergy received a conditional use permit and rezoning approval from the Sumner County Commission to put in their Argyle Creek Wind Project. They wanted to erect 60 wind turbines, which would have generated 150 megawatts of electricity once the wind farm was running by the end of 2018. An attorney for a group of landowners . . .
Judge blocks development of controversial wind farm
A Sumner County judge has blocked the development of a controversial wind farm northwest of Wellington. An attorney for a group of landowners says he learned of the ruling late Thursday. He explains the District Court judge ruled the paperwork for the wind farm was improperly copied from a similar proposal developed last year. A lawsuit to stop the Argyle Creek Wind Project was filed against Sumner County in January. The ruling prevents the county from making an initial payment . . .
Siemens Gamesa announces mass layoff at Hutchinson plant
Citing a lack of orders, officials with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy on Friday announced a mass layoff of 140 employees at the Hutchinson nacelle plant scheduled for “late September.” “Business volume at this location through the 2018 fiscal year does not support the existing workforce level,” stated a release from the Spain-based multinational corporation. “While we remain strongly committed to the long-term viability of the U.S. wind market, a difficult decision has been made to adjust the workforce by about . . .
Wind farm debate revs up again
Landowners blew through a gust of grievances on un-built wind farms Monday years after they signed leases – or, in one case, after construction started on property where a lease was never signed. One landowner, Sandy Sellers, told Marion County commissioners he never signed a lease, yet Windborne Energy still performed work on his property against his will. Tom Britain called Windborne Energy’s business model a “Ponzi scheme.” “It’s just a rotten deal the whole way,” he said. “We’re ready to . . .
County revisits wind farm permit for Windborne
After a 45-minute discussion about Windborne Energy’s conditional-use permit, Marion County commissioners at the July 31 meeting directed county counselor to check case law on CUPs with no expiration date. The issue of the open- ended CUP is concerning to some landowners affected in the south central part of the county, according to some patrons at the meeting. For almost seven years the wind farm hasn’t been active, said Tom Britain, one of the residents. Commission chairman Randy Dallke said . . .
Wind turbine catches fire in Lincoln County
Firefighters in Lincoln County responded to an interesting call on Tuesday. A wind turbine was on fire just north of I-70. With the wind turbine standing over 400 feet tall, crews said the fire was impossible to reach. Sylvan Grove Fire Chief Marc Lovin says there isn’t anything his firefighters can do but let the turbine burn. “For safety reasons, we don’t approach the tower normally because there are obviously charges from high voltage electrical current,” said Lovin. Lovin says . . .
County hears about wind farm
ERIE – Backers of a planned wind generation farm in southwest Neosho County gave an update to county commissioners at Friday morning’s meeting. Jade Scheele of Apex Clean Energy told commissioners that they held a landowner luncheon in Thayer and an open house Thursday at the Erie High School for 300 landowners. Scheele said the Neosho Ridge Wind Project is in the leasing stage. Apex Clean Energy, based in Charlottesville, Va., wants to have construction of the 300-megawatt wind generation . . .
