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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Meeting held to discuss wind farm project
The Freeborn Wind Energy Project remains controversial locally, as the state gathers information about the planned wind farm. Dozens of community members on Wednesday – a majority expressing opposition to the proposed project – packed a lecture hall at Riverland Community College. Public comments were gathered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce during the nearly six-hour meeting that was part of contested case proceedings regarding the planned project. Wendell Nelson, chief engineer and operations manager for KAAL, expressed concern about the possible . . .
Proposed wind farm meeting brings out critics, supporters
A proposed project would see the construction of 100 wind turbines, spread over two counties in two states. The farm would be built in Freeborn County, Minn. and Worth County, Iowa. On Wednesday, residents on the Minnesota side of the border had their say in whether the project should move forward. Because of the size of the proposed Freeborn Wind Energy Project, the decision of whether to issue a permit falls to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. And part of . . .
Chippewa County wind farm likely to go up in early 2018
MONTEVIDEO – Equipment began arriving this week for the construction of an 18-turbine wind farm in Chippewa County, but work is not likely to get underway until spring. Company officials with Palmer’s Creek Wind Farm outlined plans for the 44.6-megawatt wind farm to Administrative Law Judge Barbara Case at a public hearing Monday evening in Montevideo. The Public Utilities Commission has developed a draft permit for the project, and is expected to act on the permit by year’s end. Judge Case . . .
Southwest Minnesota construction unions push back on wind farm outsourcing
REGIONAL – A project to construct 100 wind turbines near Ivanhoe has provoked outrage among construction unions representing workers in and around southwest Minnesota, who say the project is largely being done by employees outsourced from out-of-state Like many union leaders before him, Will Thomssen, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 agent, wanted to see for himself. He traveled to Lincoln County to scour the license plates of workers’ cars and saw plenty of California, Texas, Oregon and Nebraska, but . . .
People deserve to live lives in peace
I am writing today to express my opposition to the proposed wind turbine project in Freeborn county. Electromagnetic, audio, visual, view, light (flicker), noise, vibration, infrasound, air turbulence, wake, electrical, loss of over the air TV and radio signal, wildlife, bird and bat issues are all attributable to wind turbines. Property value and marketability due to the presence of wind turbines too near a home are a problem. There is also concern for health effects as reported (and additional potential . . .
Why be against wind energy?
Why would you be against wind energy? Everyone thinks it’s a great idea. Why can’t these turbines be put in areas of vast nothing-ness? Why does Freeborn County need another proposed wind farm? Why put them in prime agricultural land? So, let me give you some of the whys many of us are against the proposed Freeborn Wind Farm project being in the southeast section of our county and Worth County. Health issues: Sleeplessness, noise, flicker effects, migraine headaches, heart . . .
Windfarm to be decommissioned
At last week’s county board meeting, Pipestone County Environment Administrator Kyle Krier presented an application for a conditional use permit for Woodstock Hills LLC, to decommission several wind turbines and build four larger turbines and a one megawatt solar generation on the existing site. The Woodstock Wind Farm was initially developed as 10.2-MW wind facility consisting of 17 first generation wind turbines, but those types of wind turbines are facing rising costs of operation and maintenance. Corey Juhl with Juhl . . .
Proposed wind farms need to be scrutinized
Clean energy generators such as wind power are the wave of the future as the U.S. and other countries wean themselves off pollutant makers such as oil and coal. Wind energy has several benefits. It doesn’t pollute the air or require any destructive chemicals. The wind is also free and it’s a renewable asset that can never be depleted. Landowners who rent area to wind farms can also earn additional cash. But clean energy, as it turns it out, has . . .
Wind turbine noise too much for South Dakota homeowner
TORONTO, S.D. – While the wind power companies tout the economic benefits of planting not one, but two wind farms in Lincoln County, some neighbors are fearing the possible negative impacts. A Deuel County, South Dakota, resident says he found out the hard way there are drawbacks to having a renewable energy source in his backyard. David Janes of rural Toronto, South Dakota, said he and his late wife had built a retirement home on their South Dakota farm site 17 . . .
Company addresses concerns about proposed wind farm
Thursday is the last day for public comment on a proposed wind farm that would stretch from southeast Minnesota across the border into Iowa. Illinois-based company, Invenergy, is planning on a project called the Freeborn Wind Farm; a total of 100 turbines will be going up. The cost of the project is around $300 million and will produce approximately 200 megawatts – which would power up to 70,000 homes. Farmers will be getting $10,000 per year for each turbine on . . .
