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Wind Power News: Missouri
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission 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. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
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 »
An Ameren wind farm isn’t running at night, to save bats. Should customers pay for that?
Three years ago, the largest electric utility in the state, Ameren Corp., pitched a brand new wind farm with hundreds of turbines in the hills of northern Missouri. But the area, just north of Kirksville, was also home to eagle nests and endangered bat colonies, the state said. Scientists warned Ameren the turbines would kill some. Now Ameren is before state regulators hoping to raise electricity rates across Missouri, and it’s run into a sticking point: The turbines at its . . . Complete story »
Missouri’s largest wind farm shut off at night to protect bats
ST. LOUIS– For the last few months, Missouri’s largest wind farm has been idle at night to avoid killing endangered bats. The Ameren-owned wind far, the High Prarie Renewable Energy Center, is in northeastern Missouri. The shutdown comes as Ameren Missouri looks to increase customer rates to cover billions of dollars recently invested in electric grid upgrades and its new wind generation facilities. Some consumer advocates argue customers shouldn’t have to pay more if Ameren isn’t producing at its full . . . Complete story »
Missouri’s largest wind farm isn’t running at night for fear of killing endangered animals
Every night for months, turbines at Missouri’s largest wind farm sit idle to avoid killing endangered and threatened bats. And now, as the wind farm’s owner, Ameren Missouri, seeks permission to increase customers’ rates, consumer advocates are sounding the alarm. They argue customers shouldn’t have to pay the full costs of the wind farm on their bills if it’s not fully functional. And at least one fears the company won’t meet state standards for renewable energy. The St. Louis electric . . . Complete story »
MoDOT promises to fix Schuyler county roads damaged by wind farm by end of the year
SCHUYLER COUNTY, Mo. – Roads in Schuyler County are in need of maintenance – and now the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is starting to make those repairs. MoDOT plans to work on routes U, D, O and Y, announcing pavement and maintenance work for this week. Routes E and J will also have pavement and maintenance work done, which is scheduled for July 19 through July 22. This comes after several residents in the area have voiced their concerns over the . . . Complete story »
