Wind Power News: Minnesota
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch 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.
Willmar, Minn., wind turbines may be nearing end of their useful life
With the original manufacturer no longer in existence, it is becoming more and more difficult for Willmar Municipal Utilities to find replacement parts for its aging wind turbines. Willmar, Minnesota’s wind turbines, constructed and put into operation in 2009, may be close to the end of their useful lifespan to generate power for the city. The lifetime expectancy for the turbines was estimated to be 20 years when constructed. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find replacement parts needed . . . Complete story »
PUC approves site permits for solar, wind hybrid projects in SW Minn.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission this week approved site permits and related transmission routes for the Big Bend Wind and Red Rock Solar projects in southwest Minnesota. It will be the state’s largest hybrid renewable energy project. When complete the sites will produce about 300 megawatts of windpower and up to 60 megawatts of solar generation. The project will install 55 turbines at the Big Bend wind project and solar panels on more than 480 acres on nearby land for . . . Complete story »
Power line congestion leads to wind turbine shutdowns, denting county budgets
So many wind turbines have sprouted in Minnesota in recent years that power lines can’t handle them all – and some rural counties are paying the price. Wind turbines in parts of southern Minnesota are more commonly being shut off periodically because of transmission congestion. Wind farm taxes are key revenue sources for counties, and money only flows when the turbines are turning. The 18 counties in Minnesota’s wind belt reported a 14% drop in wind tax revenue in 2021, compared . . . Complete story »
Shakopee Mdewakanton tribe to remove wind turbine this summer
Prior Lake, Minn. – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) is planning to remove the 262-foot-tall wind turbine on its reservation in Prior Lake this summer. The tribe first installed the 1.5-megawatt turbine in 2009 to provide a green energy source, but the turbine has since had significant reliability issues and is no longer cost-effective to maintain. “Unfortunately, this turbine is no longer a good fit for the location or our tribe’s needs,” said SMSC Chairman Keith Anderson. “One of . . . Complete story »
Landowners challenge Dodge County wind project
A massive wind farm project is in the works in Dodge, Steele and Mower county. The project is an approximate $400 million investment for the counties. NextEra Energy is planning to build a wind farm with 79 wind turbines south of Claremont and a 27 mile long transmission from Claremont to east of Sargeant. The project would bring in 400 construction jobs and between $970,000 – $1,180,000 in annual production taxes. But not everybody is onboard with the project. “If . . . Complete story »
Dodge County Wind Project met with contention from landowners
An energy company is looking to build a wind farm and additional facilities in Dodge, Steele and Mower county to increase renewable energy. Tuesday, The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Minnesota Department of Commerce hosted a public information meeting in Kasson to share a bit more information on the project. it’s called the Dodge County Wind Project. The project would bring 260 megawatts of clean, renewable energy to the area. The wind farm would be built just south of . . . Complete story »
Lyon Co. hears Avangrid wind farm proposal
MARSHALL – Energy company Avangrid Renewables is in the process of acquiring land for a proposed wind project that would affect parts of Yellow Medicine and Lyon counties, Lyon County commissioners learned this week. A representative of Avangrid spoke about the proposal during the county board’s Tuesday meeting. Jesse Bermel of Avangrid Renewables told commissioners that the company is acquiring leases for land that could be used to build wind turbines. “We’ve been in the county a few months now,” Bermel . . . Complete story »
Dodge County Wind proposing turbine project for 2023
A new wind turbine project could be coming to Dodge, Mower and Steele counties this time next year. Dodge County Wind LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy based in Jupiter, Fla., has proposed a 259 megawatt powered wind farm that will stretch through the three counties. The wind farm would have up to 79 turbines that with heights up to 486.5 feet tall. The proposed turbine project is still in the early stages of development. Will Seuffet, executive secretary of . . . Complete story »
Box Car Wind touts ‘generational opportunity’
More than 100 landowners and potential stakeholders gathered at The Caboose in Tracy last Tuesday for a meal and, more importantly, much-needed information pertaining to the proposed Box Car Wind wind farm between Tracy and Balaton. The meeting – a sales pitch of sorts to local landowners – was as much about what the company behind the wind farm has given back to the community than it was about facts, figures and projections. “This is an exciting process,” said Sean Stocker, director . . . Complete story »
Iowa regulators deny requests to halt construction of controversial power line
Iowa utility regulators say work can continue on a power line between Dubuque and Middleton despite a court order blocking the Mississippi River crossing. The Iowa Utilities Board on Tuesday denied petitions by power line opponents who sought to halt construction of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek project in light of a federal judge’s ruling that it could not cross the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Opponents argued that without the crossing the line cannot fulfill its purpose of . . . Complete story »
