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Wind Power News: Missouri
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
Landowners fear ‘scarred’ landscape from project to bring green energy across the Midwest
The transmission line known as the Grain Belt Express would deliver wind energy from southwest Kansas to other parts of the country – the equivalent of 15 million barrels of oil annually. Some landowners have cashed checks for their property rights, but others are strongly opposed. Loren Sprouse drove through his hometown of Braymer, Missouri, and noted the height of each structure he passed. The water tower loomed 100 feet high. The grain elevator was a little taller. All were shorter . . . Complete story »
Battle over wind energy line heads to Missouri Senate
JEFFERSON CITY – A top Senate leader is predicting Missouri lawmakers will pull the plug on a controversial wind-energy power line before they adjourn next month. Although previous efforts to zap the Grain Belt Express power line have stalled, Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, told reporters last week that he expects the chamber will approve legislation placing roadblocks in the way of the development. “We’re going to push that through,” Rowden said. His prediction comes as a Senate panel is . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine project discussion continues in Page County
Discussion on a proposed Invenergy wind turbine farm in Page and Fremont counties continued March 1 during an evening Page County Board of Supervisors meeting. About 20 residents of southwest Iowa and northwest Missouri spoke during the two-hour-long comment period in the meeting. Board members said they had also received about 14 comments from constituents opposing the project, with one or two comments in favor of turbine construction. “The constant whoosh kinda gets on your nerves, to be honest,” said . . . Complete story »
Misleading Missourians is the real aim of the Grain Belt Express
Many Missouri residents living along the proposed “Grain Belt Express” merchant transmission line by Invenergy were surprised to read the blatant misrepresentation of the project in the recent op-ed “The way of the American genius continues to build with the Grain Belt Express” appearing in these pages on Dec. 3. The real shame is the paper wasted ink on this exercise in self-aggrandizement, when the same outdated talking points used by the author can be viewed by anyone directly on . . . Complete story »
Public hearings planned on Liberty rate case
If approved in full, Liberty’s request would raise by $12.76 per month — 9.64% — the bill of its typical electric customer in Missouri, defined as someone using around 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month. The increase would recover the Joplin-based utility’s recent investment in wind turbines, solar, smart meters, infrastructure upgrades and more. Complete story »
Boone County commission votes to pass wind farm regulations
The Boone County Commission voted unanimously Thursday to pass regulations on wind farms in Boone County. The original draft was passed in June by the county Planning and Zoning Commission. Since then, there have been changes in definitions, intent and purpose, visual impact assessment, and abandonment. “As a result of the public comments that were received, staff has drafted several amendments to the proposed regulations,” said Bill Florea, the county’s director of resource management. Wind farms in Boone County have . . . Complete story »
Boone County Commission enacts new wind power regulations
After two years of back-and-forth, the Boone County Commission approved a set of rules governing wind turbines in the county this week. The new regulations, unanimously approved by the commission Thursday evening, altered several of the county’s wind policies. The rules restricted turbines from being constructed within 1,750 feet of residential property lines and capped the maximum height of turbines at 263 feet. James Owen, executive director of Columbia-based clean energy group Renew Missouri, said the ordinance was essentially a . . . Complete story »
Boone County wind farm regulations face vote this week
After over two years in the making, regulations on wind farms could be put in place in Boone County. The regulations are expected to be voted on by the Boone County Commission at its Thursday meeting. There have been several changes to the original draft that was passed by the county Planning and Zoning Commission in June. The newest draft includes changes in definitions, intent and purpose; visual impact assessment; visual impacts; and abandonment. “The changes are the result of . . . Complete story »
‘Ready to go to war’: Wind power grows in Kansas and Missouri. Why do some oppose it?
Public officials are fond of pointing out that all of Kansas City International Airport’s electricity is now generated from wind – namely the Cimarron Bend wind farm in Clark County, in far western Kansas. But as wind power development grows across Kansas and Missouri, not everyone is happy. About an hour’s drive north of Kansas City, the Osborn Wind Project has divided neighbors since its 2017 opening. Here, one hears the familiar arguments about wind towers: Some call them eyesores, and . . . Complete story »
County wind turbine regulations near approval
Boone County is one step closer to defining how wind farms can play a part in the area’s future energy generation. Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill expressed interest in acting on the county regulations at the commission’s Nov. 4 meeting. His comment came following a work session Monday to review the proposed regulations with county Resource Management staff. Director of Boone County Resource Management Bill Florea said the department will get a final draft of regulations before the commission . . . Complete story »
