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.
We won!!! ALJ recommend Freeborn permit be denied, or …
Bottom line: STATEMENT OF ISSUE Has Freeborn Wind satisfied the requirements in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216F and the criteria set forth in section 216E.03, subdivision 7, and Minnesota Rule 7854.0500 for a Site Permit for the proposed Project? SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS The Administrative Law Judge concludes that Freeborn Wind has failed to demonstrate that the proposed Project will meet the requirements of Minn. R. 7030.0040, the applicable Minnesota Noise Standards. Therefore, the Administrative Law Judge respectfully recommends that the Commission . . . Complete story »
Bill would require lights on wind turbines
ST. PAUL – After introducing a bill to require lighting systems on wind turbines, Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, said he hopes to spur renewable energy technology. “I brought up this subject in the House because I hope the Minnesota wind industry will embrace ADLS technology and deploy it in all new construction,” Swedzinski said. “It should be our goal that ADLS be deployed and retrofitted in all existing wind farms.” Swedzinski’s H.F. 3792 is a bill that would require wind companies . . . Complete story »
Wind farm construction starts May 21
Construction is scheduled to begin May 21 on a new wind project near Woodstock. The 101 megawatt (MW) Stoneray Wind Project will include 39 Siemens wind turbines – 24 in Rock Township and 12 in Burke Township in Pipestone County and three in Chanarambie Township in Murray County. Vince Green, project development manager with EDF Renewable Energy, the project’s owner/developer, said there will be 34 Siemens 2.6 MW turbines and five Siemens 2.3 MW turbines in the project. At full capacity, . . . Complete story »
New wind energy center in the works for Steele, Dodge counties
STEELE COUNTY – Renewable energy has been a hot topic for years throughout the United States, and southern Minnesota is not exempt from trying to find a way too be more green. NextEra Energy Resources approached the Steele County Board of Commissioners at the board’s regular meeting on Tuesday to inform the commissioners of a new potential project that could be coming to the area as early as next spring. “We analyze the area we wish to develop in for the . . . Complete story »
Planning Commission tweaks Renewable Energy Ordinance
At the April 19 meeting of the Fillmore County Planning Commission, revisions were made on a proposed ordinance for renewable energy. The county has only a wind power ordinance currently. This proposed ordinance will regulate both wind and solar energy systems. Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins explained the wind portion is similar to the current ordinance. However, more terms used in the proposed ordinance are clearly defined. The proposed ordinance language was taken from a Martin County ordinance. Multiple tweaks were . . . Complete story »
Lock up your wind rights
Here we go again. I strongly reject the false allegations in the recent front-page story about Tradewind Energy in the Sentinel. Tradewind is just another developer promising payments in trade for the total mess and divisiveness that pits neighbors against neighbors. Nothing tears a community apart like a wind farm that nobody wants, the country does not need and is built solely for the huge tax subsidies. The article states the project will generate $1.2 million in tax revenue. This . . . Complete story »
Tradewind planning wind farm
FAIRMONT – A quartet of representatives from Tradewind Energy recently visited the Fairmont Exchange Club to share information about the Fourmile Wind Project proposed for Jackson and Martin counties. Over the past several months, Tradewind agents have met with more than a dozen residential, civic and governmental groups to explain the wind farm project, which would generate $1.5 million annually in landowner lease payments and $1.2 million annual in taxes, mostly in Martin County. “We have a pretty strong track record,” . . . Complete story »
County Board stiffens wind turbine ordinance
Months of protests and arguments on the wind power project proposed for the Goodhue and Belle Creek area climaxed in a six-and-a-half-plus hour meeting of the Goodhue County Board in Red Wing on October 5. The meeting in the Old Courtroom at the County offices included two public hearings, which together lasted four hours. A stream of residents came forward to air their three-minute comments, some speaking up to four times, even though the County Board has no authority over . . . Complete story »
EDF updates Faribault County Board
Jake Salisbury and P.J. Saliterman of EDF Renewable Energy updated the Faribault County Board of Commissioners on the Oza Tanka Wind Project at last Tuesday’s board meeting. In discussing the economic benefits of the wind turbine project, Salisbury informed the board of the $800,000 annual production tax that the project will distribute each year to Faribault County. Of that sum, 20 percent will go to the townships that host the wind turbine sites. According to Salisbury, an average of $10 . . . Complete story »
Future uncertain for south-central Minnesota wind energy projects
The future of two wind projects in south-central Minnesota is uncertain as opposition from area residents grows. Wind Locked is a group made up of farmers who oppose having a wind turbine on their land. The group has more than 80 members in Faribault County who don’t want turbines taking up productive farmland and are concerned about noise from the machines. A Freeborn County wind farm is also facing opposition. Some farmers support the wind farms because they can earn . . . Complete story »
