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.
Excelsior man convicted for wind energy fraud scheme
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury has convicted an Excelsior-area man for orchestrating a multi-million dollar fraud scheme in the wind energy industry. After a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson, the jury found Robert Dooling, 52, guilty on all counts. He was convicted on three counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in criminally derived property. “Mr. Dooling wanted to live a life of luxury without earning . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine tower vs. car
MARSHALL – A crash involving a trailer carrying part of a wind turbine tower stopped traffic at the intersection of South Bruce Street and East College Drive on Wednesday morning. However, there were no injuries, Marshall Police said. The crash was reported at 10 a.m., said Marshall Public Safety Director Rob Yant. A 2005 Buick driven by a 27-year-old man from New Ulm sideswiped a trailer carrying the base for a wind turbine. The Buick received significant damage, Yant said. The . . . Complete story »
Failed VA wind turbine will continue to cost taxpayers
It was good to read that the decision to take down the VA’s wind turbine was finally made. It was a disaster from the start. Now,almost eight years later, it is finally coming down. Trying to minimize the blame on the VA, Barry Venable, public affairs officer, said the VA”only” paid the contractor $2.27 millionand received $450,000 back. Additional costs include the$300,000 study just completed onwhat to do with the turbine, plus the fact that the structure is not going . . . Complete story »
A ‘huge disappointment’: St. Cloud VA to remove failed wind turbine
The St. Cloud VA Health Care System plans to remove a wind turbine on its campus that has stood idle for years. The turbine was part of an effort by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to use more renewable energy at its facilities across the country. Wind was supposed to supply a significant portion of the St. Cloud medical center’s electricity. But shortly after it was installed in 2011, the turbine stopped functioning. Since then, it’s loomed as an . . . Complete story »
St. Cloud VA to take down ill-fated, dysfunctional wind turbine in 2019
ST. CLOUD – The ill-fated, much maligned and profoundly dysfunctional wind turbine at St. Cloud VA Health Care System will finally have its last chapter. “We’re going to take the thing down,” Barry Venable, public affairs officer, said Friday. “After seven and a half years, it’s an item of curiosity.” The VA has “fully explored” its option to repair the turbine and has decided to take it down in 2019, Venable said. “To characterize how we feel here locally, we’re disappointed,” . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine project causes stir in Worth County
WORTH, Iowa- A proposed turbine project is moving forward in Worth County and Southern Minnesota but residents have questions and concerns about the project. Mitchell County and Worth County receive what’s called TIF funds from the projects like wind turbines. Those funds are then used for infrastructure projects like a study for a proposed natural gas pipeline. But some community members said there are a number of issues with the turbines like the lack of regulations. That’s why they are . . . Complete story »
Lincoln County farmers protest tile breakage from wind tower construction
IVANHOE – Richard and Eileen Nielsen were one of a half dozen farmers to tell the Lincoln County commissioners that the county had to do something about the broken tile and dangerous sink holes left in the wake of the wind turbine construction. Several farmers had contacted board members directly to tell them that in the course of building the turbines, the wind company had broken tile lines and crushed some road sections creating a flooding situation, Commissioner Joe Drietz said . . . Complete story »
Local group urges residents to comment on proposed wind turbines
Dodge County Wind, LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, has proposed a wind energy project in Dodge and Steele Counties of 70 wind turbines and a large electric transmission line from a substation in Dodge County near the Steele County line to the Byron substation. Individual turbines would be located in Havana Township in Steele County and Ripley and Ashland Townships in Dodge County. The approval process is still in the beginning stages and a local Dodge County . . . Complete story »
Proposed Dodge County wind farm raises questions
DODGE CENTER – Douglas Eayrs questions whether prime farmland is the right location for 70 planned wind turbines. The director of Dodge County Concerned Citizens said he’s still pondering an opinion on NextEra’s plans to build a wind project that would stretch from Steele County to western Olmsted County, with most of the wind turbines and proposed transmission line set for Dodge County. “I don’t really have a positive or negative opinion yet,” he said as he opened a two-hour presentation . . . Complete story »
Keep new wind turbine developments safe distance from residents
I’m originally from Marshall, went to St. John’s and then joined the U.S. Navy. Marshall gave me a sense of home. SJU gave me a sense of humanity and inquiry. The USN gave me a sense of loyalty and a desire to protect those unprotected. I live in Massachusetts, but have always kept tabs on the “goings-on” in Marshall and Lyon County over the years. The June 2017 Independent Editorial (Proposed wind farms need to be scrutinized) is spot on. . . . Complete story »
