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.
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 . . .
Public comment deadline looms for proposed wind farm
Thursday, July 6 is the deadline for public comment on a proposed wind farm in southeast Minnesota and north Iowa. An Illinois company, Invenergy, plans to put up 100 wind turbines between Freeborn County, Minnesota and Worth County, Iowa. Some residents in Freeborn County are considered non-participants, meaning they won’t get money. Those residents who are opposed to the project said it would drive down property prices. They could also be losing over-the-air TV and radio signals. “It is in . . .
New $300M wind farm planned in Steele, Dodge counties
OWATONNA – A new $300 million wind power project in Steele and Dodge counties will bring millions of dollars of tax revenue to the area and generate enough electricity to power every home in Steele County four times over. NextEra Energy Resources, a Florida company that bills itself as “the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun,” is planning to break ground in August 2018 on a 200 megawatt wind farm consisting of 83 individual turbines, of . . .
Letter: Officials went against the people
Nestled above the Iowa border is Freeborn County’s London Township. The residents go about their business, bother nobody, descended from immigrants who fled Europe’s burdensome taxes and government rule, coming to America to live the dream of liberty, and have opportunities according to abilities, not birthright. Settlers were hard-working, self-sufficient and elected church, school, township and county boards who represented their belief in frugality, low taxes, freedom and property rights. Life was good in peaceful London Township. Until now. Today’s . . .
Wind farms to light up region
LINCOLN COUNTY – Senior Project Developer Shanelle Montana with EDF Renewable Energy of Minneapolis has been making regular reports to the Lincoln County Board regarding the Red Pine Wind Energy Project that will soon be under construction. Red Pine Wind Project LLC is a subsidiary of EDF Renewable Energy. “We acquired this project in early development from Infinity Wind, LLC in 2015. It had been in early development before that,” Montana said. “Our project boundary is currently going through the permitting . . .
Wind farm concerns in Freeborn County
FREEBORN COUNTY, Minn.- A proposed wind farm in freeborn county has residents voicing their opinions. The Freeborn County Wind Energy Project would bring 100 wind turbines to southern Minnesota and north Iowa. It will be built on a 40,000 acre site just a little more than a mile east of Glenville. “Quite often in Freeborn County we hear that we don’t get economic development throughout the area and to me this is quite a bit of what this is,” said . . .
Letter: Investigate effects of wind turbines
Home sweet home. What makes a house a home? For most individuals, it isn’t a particular feature of the building, but rather the feelings and memories associated with that house that leads to the nostalgia and fondness which spurs us to call it home. I grew up in Shellrock Township (south of Glenville), in a house my parents built 20 years ago on the same acreage my dad grew up on. After graduating from Glenville-Emmons High School, I moved to . . .
County votes against study into wind project
The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners rejected a proposal Tuesday to conduct a study of the Freeborn Wind Energy Project planned in southeast Freeborn County. The proposal failed by a 2-2 vote. Dan Belshan and Mike Lee voted yes. Glen Mathiason and Chris Shoff voted no. Jim Nelson abstained from voting because he owns property where wind turbines are slated to be installed. The board’s vote came after approximately 20 people shared support and concerns of the planned project in . . .
