Wind Power News: Kansas
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
Hutchinson Siemens plant temporarily shutting down in July, most employees to be laid off
The Siemens Gamesa plants in Hutchinson and Iowa will be shutting down this summer and laying off most employees as the company awaits new wind turbine orders, officials announced on Friday. The blade manufacturing plant in Fort Madison, Iowa, will close first, in June, followed by the Hutchinson nacelle manufacturing plant in July. The company called the closures a “hibernation,” indicating it would be temporary. But a spokesman said it was unclear how long the plants would be closed, depending . . . Complete story »
Commissioners take steps to protect county as wind energy topic heats up
The Brown County Commissioners took steps to protect the county as the wind energy topic heats up. Clif Heiniger presented the commissioners with a letter signed by 143 residents who were concerned about wind turbines being present in the county. Heiniger told commissioners most of the signees were rural resident and cited everything from visual, noise, electronic interference to reasons they didn’t want the turbines. He also noted that property values would suffer with large wind turbines in the area. . . . Complete story »
Landowners fear ‘scarred’ landscape from project to bring green energy across the Midwest
The transmission line known as the Grain Belt Express would deliver wind energy from southwest Kansas to other parts of the country – the equivalent of 15 million barrels of oil annually. Some landowners have cashed checks for their property rights, but others are strongly opposed. Loren Sprouse drove through his hometown of Braymer, Missouri, and noted the height of each structure he passed. The water tower loomed 100 feet high. The grain elevator was a little taller. All were shorter . . . Complete story »
Commission hears wind farm update
NextEra Energy’s Billy Wilkins met with the Board of County Commissioners on Monday to update them on plans for the proposed wind farm that will be located in far western Washington County and into Republic County. Wilkins said this 604 megawatt wind farm is a “huge” project for NextEra Energy and will be one of the largest wind farms that the company has in the United States. An Oklahoma wind… [rest of article available at source] Complete story »
Turbines would hinder firefighters in Sand Hills
Several people voiced opposition against NextEra Energy’s proposal to erect wind turbines in Harvey County during a planning commission meeting last week. Burrton Assistant Fire Chief Jim Redinger said erecting turbines in the Sand Hills would make fighting fires much more difficult, because helicopters and tankers wouldn’t be able to provide support to firefighters. He spoke on behalf of the Burrton and Halstead Fire Departments. “I know what a hindrance those wind farms can be in highly volatile areas like . . . Complete story »
Neosho Ridge wind turbines no longer working, raising concerns with a county official
NEOSHO COUNTY, Kan. – Liberty Utilities’ ‘Neosho Ridge’ Wind Farm in Neosho County, Kansas, is no longer working. One county commissioner says he wants to know why. Despite all the wind we’ve had recently, the turbines in Neosho County, haven’t been turning. District One Commissioner Paul Westhoff says it’s been more than two weeks since they were last operating. “What I was told is that their main transformer blew up, shorted out, whatever, and then their backup one did, and . . . Complete story »
Kansas community split on proposed wind farm
BELLEVILLE, Kan. – We often hear about renewable energies becoming the future of power generation, but if you stop by the Republic County Board of Commissioner’s meeting you’ll find that’s a future not everyone wants to be a part of. “Today would mark one, two, three, four, five, this is the sixth meeting in a row with the county commissioners’,” said Cuba, Kan. resident Mike Kolman. Kolman is one of a group of concerned residents calling themselves the Republic County Responsible . . . Complete story »
Brown County Commission Minutes
March 28, 2022 The Board of Brown County Commissioners met in regular session with the following members present: Chairman Lamar Shoemaker, William Pollock, and Richard Lehmkuhl. Also present was Brown County Clerk, Dawn Boyles. County Attorney, Kevin Hill, was present for a portion of the meeting. Lamar Shoemaker opened the meeting at 8:10 a.m. All recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor Shane Spangler led the meeting with a prayer. Bob Hamilton, KDOT Liaison, presented the Brown County Sheriff’s Department with . . . Complete story »
Transformer problem shuts down wind turbines
ERIE – A transformer malfunction has caused an outage at the Neosho Ridge Wind energy facility that Neosho County commissioners discussed Tuesday. Commission Chair Gail Klaassen said she was contacted by Kelly Price with Neosho Ridge who said operator Liberty Utilities had reported the outage. The issue has shut down electric generators in the wind turbines and put out aviation warning lights. Klaassen said officials are working on the problem but do not have a timeframe for repair. Commissioner Paul . . . Complete story »
Seeking wind farm answers
Commissioners learned some answers to the most looming questions about the High Banks Wind project in a meeting Monday with project manager William Wilkens and NextEra Energy attorney Alan Anderson. Washington County commissioners and county attorney Elizabeth Baskerville Hiltgen listened to the meeting via phone; the meeting was held in Belleville during Republic County’s commission meeting. Wilkens said contractors could start to mobilize for construction by this December, with plans for the wind farm to be operational by December 2023. . . . Complete story »
