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.
Wind farms seek extensions to deadline for light mitigation
Several North Dakota wind facilities are asking for more time to meet a deadline in state law that requires them to have functioning light-mitigating technology by the end of this year. The law requires wind farms sited before June 2016 to have functioning technology in place by the end of this year. Wind farms sited since June 2016 were required to have the technology by the end of 2019. Light-mitigating technology includes aircraft detection lighting and light intensity dimming at . . . Complete story »
PSC to hear lighting request for wind farm in Morton, Stark counties
The North Dakota Public Service Commission has scheduled a hearing on the latest request from a wind farm operator seeking more time to comply with a year-end deadline to install light mitigation technology. The commission has received eight requests from companies hoping for either an extension or a waiver from the requirement, which takes effect at the end of 2021. Without an extension or waiver, companies must equip their wind farms with technology that keeps the red lights atop turbines . . . Complete story »
Wind farms face deadline on lighting systems
The Public Service Commission will be considering the extensions and waivers on a case-by-case basis. A number of wind farms in North Dakota have asked for an extension – or a waiver – of the state requirement that they must have a new lighting system – called ADLS, or “Aircraft Detection Lighting System.” That replaces the constantly blinking red beacon lights, so that the lights are only on when an aircraft is in the area. The deadline for installing the . . . Complete story »
New wind farm asks for a waiver on state rules on lighting turbine towers
The Public Service Commission will hold a formal hearing on whether to grant a waiver to a Pierce County wind farm over “light mitigation” technology. State law says wind farms must have that kind of technology installed – but the PSC can grant a waiver. The developers of Rugby Wind say they have ordered the “Aircraft Detection Lighting System” – which is manufactured in Europe. The company says because of supply chain issues, the system might not arrive by a . . . Complete story »
Wind farm requests another lighting extension
State regulators will hold a hearing Dec. 17 on whether to give a Pierce County wind farm more time to install technology that will keep its turbines’ red lights off at night unless an aircraft flies nearby. Avangrid Renewables has ordered the technology for the installation at Rugby Wind, but the company anticipates some of the equipment manufactured in Europe might not arrive in time. The deadline to comply with the state’s light mitigation law is the end of this . . . Complete story »
High winds shut down some wind turbines across North Dakota
If you stepped outside the last few days, you know it is windy in North Dakota. Some areas have seen wind gusts as high as 70 miles per hour. But do high winds help wind turbines produce more energy? While you may think high winds mean more wind energy, it’s actually the opposite. “A lot of people in the general public think that the higher the wind, the better for the wind turbine industry. That’s not the case,” said Bruce . . . Complete story »
Wind farms seek flexibility under new turbine lighting law
Several companies are seeking special consideration from state regulators when it comes to complying with North Dakota law requiring that wind farms install technology to keep the lights atop turbines from blinking bright red all night. Newer wind farms have already installed the systems; ones that received state permits before June 2016 have until the end of this year to meet the requirement or possibly be fined. The state does not specify what type of system companies must install, but . . . Complete story »
Does Big Wind even have the money to upgrade its turbines?
We should be very, very worried that Big Wind, upon which, thanks to a maze of government subsidies and mandates we are increasingly dependent to keep the lights on, isn't as financially sound as we'd like to think. Complete story »
Wind farms asking for waiver of lighting rules
Eight wind farms in North Dakota are asking for waivers or extensions concerning the deadline for converting the lighting systems on their turbine towers from the current blinking red lights to different systems. The new systems include “ADLS” – for aircraft detection lighting system – which has the approval from the Federal Aviation Administration – and “LIDS” – for “light intensity dimming system,” which has not yet been approved. The deadline for the wind farms to make the conversion is . . . Complete story »
Ruso Wind farm could be back before the PSC for approval
A proposed wind farm in Ward and McLean Counties could be revived – after permits were denied because of concerns with turbine lighting. Ruso Wind had asked for a waiver on the light rules, after the Minot Air Force Base raised objections about its “Aircraft Detection Lighting System.” That system uses radar technology to turn the lights on only when an aircraft is nearby. Instead, Ruso Wind proposed the normal blinking red light system. In 2020, the Public Service Commission . . . Complete story »
