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Wind Power News: North Dakota
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.
An ill wind blows
As a resident of Eddy County, I have some concerns on the new wind farm being planned. I was told by a PRC Wind (project manager of the wind farm) representative that it has gotten larger. Are you sure you will not be surrounded with these towers? What about phase 2 or 3? This wind farm will not only change the view of the landscape, what will happen to ur property values and taxes? Will our property resale values go . . . Complete story »
Semi hauling section of wind tower goes off interstate ramp in Fargo
The ramp from I-29 to westbound Interstate-94 in Fargo was blocked for about two hours Fri. after a semi pulling a trailer with a section of a wind tower went off the shoulder of the ramp. The trailer got stick in the ditch at about 3:15 p.m. The ramp was blocked as the State Patrol and heavy duty tow trucks worked to get the rig moving again. Complete story »
Hearing set Monday on wind farm proposed for North Dakota coal country
The public will be able to weigh in Monday on a proposed wind farm in Oliver County, the heart of North Dakota coal country. The North Dakota Public Service Commission hearing will be at 10 a.m. Central time Monday, in the Betty Hagel Memorial Civic Center in Center. The PSC intends to livestream the hearing on its website, www.psc.nd.gov. NextEra Energy’s Oliver Wind IV Energy Center would spread 73 wind turbines over more than 22,000 acres near Hannover, west of . . . Complete story »
The Air Force asks Congress to protect its nuclear launch sites from encroaching wind turbines
“They’re monstrous, and then you have gigantic blades spinning on them as well. Not only is that a physical obstacle, but those turbines, they create the hazards like turbulence as well. That can be really dangerous for us to fly into. So it’s a very complex situation, when you have to deal with those.” Complete story »
Project includes installing up to 285 wind turbines in Stutsman, LaMoure counties – estimated cost around $400 million
Jamestown – NextEra Energy Resources has located at least two to three potential locations for a hydrogen facility that makes fertilizer in the area around the Spiritwood Energy Park Association’s industrial park, according to Thomas Vonbische, project director of development for NextEra. As part of that, the company is looking to install up to 285 wind turbines in Stutsman and LaMoure counties, he said. Vonbische told the Stutsman County Commission on Tuesday, June 6, the project is in the preliminary stages. . . . Complete story »
North Dakota wind turbine blade manufacturer sued for race harassment
LM Wind Power Blades, Inc, a wind turbine blade manufacturer based in Grand Forks, North Dakota, violated federal law when it subjected an African American employee to a racially hostile work environment and then retaliated against him for complaining, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed May 4, 2023. According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, the African American employee was the target of sustained racial hostility from white employees and supervisors, which included racial slurs and . . . Complete story »
ND bill requires public hearings before signing wind project leases, enables local exclusion zones
A coal-supporting North Dakota lawmaker has introduced a bill aimed at giving counties and local residents more information and say about planned wind projects before they proceed, a move the state agriculture commissioner says could have broad negative impacts. Rep. Anna Novak, R-Hazen, shared her support for House Bill 1512 on Thursday, Feb. 2, before the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee, saying North Dakota needs adequate wind permitting laws to protect residents. Novak is co-founder of the Facebook group . . . Complete story »
Lawsuit over wind turbine in Oliver County moves forward
A family in Oliver County has asked to recover financial losses in a lawsuit against a wind farm operator. They claim a turbine that was placed too close to their farmstead devalued and prevented them from fully using their property. In 2021, the North Dakota Public Service Commission told Minnesota Power to take down a wind turbine that had been constructed in 2014. The turbine was 1,125 feet away from Keith and Deanna Kessler’s farmstead. That was within a 1,400-foot . . . Complete story »
Rugby Wind to pay $24,000 fine for missing the deadline for a new lighting system
The owner of the Rugby Wind farm will be paying a $24,000 fine for failing to install light mitigating technology by a deadline spelled out in state law. That deadline was December 31st, 2021. The common light mitigating system is called “ADLS” – for “Aircraft Detection Lighting System.” Rugby Wind asked for a waiver in meeting the state deadline, as it was looking at another system called “LIDS,” for “Light Intensity Dimming System.” Public Service Commission chairman Julie Fedorchak said . . . Complete story »
Grand Forks County drops wind farm moratorium
The Grand Forks County Commission has lifted a moratorium on wind farm applications after tweaking a series of local siting requirements. The revised document includes moving the setback for wind turbines from one-quarter to one-half mile. The changes also define the tower height setback from property lines and right-of-ways. Another provision involves the so-called shadow flicker – or the amount of time rotating wind blades can cast shadows on nearby dwellings. The max time would be 30 hours per year . . . Complete story »