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Wind Power News: Kansas
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission 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. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
County Commissioners approve wind energy regulations
When they met this week, Leavenworth County commissioners approved wind energy regulations. Commissioners approved a resolution Wednesday to amend county zoning and subdivision regulations in order to enact regulations for “wind energy conversion systems.” Krystal Voth, director of the Leavenworth County Planningand Zoning Department, said the new regulations are in line with conversations commissioners previously had regarding wind energy. Commissioner Mike Stieben said he wants to prevent wind farms with large towers from being established in the county. “My main . . . Complete story »
County eyes temporary moratorium of wind farms
During a discussion of county “Commercial Renewable Energy” regulations and special use permits, county commissioner Chip Westfall [made] an unexpected suggestion: a total moratorium of wind energy permits for a limited time. “We are so deep into this, and we are only three to four months out, do we need to extend our moratorium to include nonissue of a permit for any tower until everything is locked down?” Westfall asked. Currently resolution 2019-19 creates a moratorium for turbines being placed . . . Complete story »
Neosho Ridge Wind turbines operating again in county
After not operating for about four months, wind turbines are turning again in Neosho County, though not at full capacity, Two transformers malfunctioned in March, leaving the 139 turbines in the Neosho Ridge Wind complex idle. Liberty Utilities Senior Manager of Communications and Marketing Kelli Price said the transformers that failed are still at the manufacturer for evaluation. “The cause of the failure is still under review, and we do not yet have a specific timeframe for when any repairs . . . Complete story »
County review of wind farm regulations continues
It appears there will be changes made to zoning regulations of wind energy turbines, and those changes could come as soon as August. The Harvey County Commission will review some recommendations which came out of a meeting of the county planning and zoning board last week which was dedicated to reviewing current conditional use permit requirements for wind turbines. The County Commission will be presented with an overview of a comparison of Harvey County’s Commercial Renewable Energy Regulations to other . . . Complete story »
County zoning board to look at wind turbine permitting
Where wind turbines could be permitted as part of a wind farm project by NextEra Energy in Harvey County are limited – the county passed a resolution in 2019 setting limits for wind turbines. Those limits will be under review during a 7 p.m. July 12 meeting of the Harvey County Planning and Zoning advisory board and board of zoning appeals in the courthouse community room, 800 N. Main, Newton. The meeting is a work session for planning board to . . . Complete story »
County puts wind energy moratorium in place
The Brown County Commission met Thursday morning for the regular end-of-month meeting, and after much discussion, the group took a vote that brought the culmination of months of discussion regarding wind energy, agreeing to a Wind Energy Moratorium by a 2-1 vote, with Commissioners Larmar Shoemaker and Richard Lehmkuhl voting for the Resolution, and Commissioner William Pollock voting against. With the moratorium now passed, the commission will move on to selecting a company to help create their Comprehensive Plan, and . . . Complete story »
Wind farm challenged yet again
Four Florence men made a last-minute effort Monday to get county commissioners to halt development of a wind farm by claiming a predecessor owner of the project was involved in fraud. Sunflower Wind, now owned by the Danish company Orsted, will sponsor a ground breaking ceremony Thursday. Tom Britain, who was scheduled for 1:45 p.m. on Monday’s agenda to talk about corruption, did not come to the meeting at his scheduled time. He did appear half an hour later, saying . . . Complete story »
Differing opinions continue to stall wind energy moratorium
The Brown County Commission met on Monday morning, and with a decision expected to implement a moratorium against the development of commercial wind energy in the county was once again delayed as commissioners clashed on details of the proposed moratorium. At the County Commission meeting on June 6, County Attorney Kevin Hill presented a proposed moratorium on wind energy development, per the request of the commission. The proposed ordinance would impose a $1,000 per day fine for any company in . . . Complete story »
Commissioners discuss Wind Energy Development Moratorium
The Brown County Commission met Monday morning and heard more information about the Wind Energy Development Moratorium from County Attorney Kevin Hill. County Attorney Hill addressed the questions presented at the last meeting about the Wind Energy Development Moratorium. Hill stated that the $1,000 per day fine is fairly standard. Commissioner Pollock suggested raising the fine to create a larger deterrent to wind energy companies, to which Hill responded that the presented resolution is simply a draft, and that the . . . Complete story »
Moratorium on wind farms reviewed at county meeting
OSWEGO – Two members of the Labette County commission want to study justifications for a moratorium on construction of a wind development before possibly acting on it. County Counselor Brian Johnson on Monday shared with commissioners a resolution to impose a seven-month moratorium on wind development so the commission can study zoning. RWE Renewables is a German utility that is looking to develop a wind harvesting facility in western Labette County, from south of Big Hill Lake to north of Edna . . . Complete story »
