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Wind Power News: South 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.
State regulators want a look-back at results from Crowned Ridge wind project’s sound study
A facility to turn wind into electricity in northeastern South Dakota that state regulators permitted in 2019 must do another study this fall on how much sound from its 87 turbines can be heard at several homes in the project area. The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission ordered Crowned Ridge in Grant and Codington counties to take a second look. The decision comes after an outside consultant for the commission reviewed the company’s results from last fall at six locations. . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine burns near Summit
A Wind Turbine motor caught fire shortly after 12:30 this afternoon west of Summit. No injuries were reported and the fire was allowed to burn itself out according to authorities. Complete story »
Wind turbines affected by cold temperatures
These cold temperatures are also affecting wind turbines. Officials say it’s not the main reason for what’s going on with the electrical grid, but is certainly adding to the problem. In 2019, wind accounted for nearly 20 percent of the state’s electricity generation. While wind turbines can be helpful in generating electricity, there are times when they aren’t able to run efficiently. The Southwest Power Pool, which oversees the electrical grid for most of the central part of the country . . . Complete story »
Conserve electricity – wind power no help
This morning (Feb. 15) I woke up to 27 below. I looked outside at the 14 wind turbines I see from my window, not one was turning. All day yesterday (Feb. 14) the Oahe Electric staff was putting out alerts on social media asking people to limit showers, grain drying, drying clothes, baking, etc. because electricity was in dangerously short supply. They said, “there were limited wind resources from North Dakota to Arkansas.” Did you know that wind turbines actually . . . Complete story »
SD supreme court restores wind permits
Permits for two Deuel County wind projects have been restored by the South Dakota Supreme Court. The Deuel County Board of Adjustment unanimously voted to allow construction of two wind farms. Opponents appealed, and a Third Circuit Court invalidated the votes of two board members, finding they had a conflict of interest. The high court has now overturned that ruling. Victoria Wicks reports for SDPB. Complete story »
Other facts about wind energy
In response to Brian Roberts’ letter “Wind energy is powerful for SD” (Mitchell Republic, Oct. 31) I would take the opposite view that “Wind energy is the biggest taxpayer scam in our lifetime.” Wind energy is just a way of transferring wealth from middle class taxpayers to rich multinational corporations with high paid lobbyists under the guise of “climate change.” The Production Tax Credit first established in 1992 was supposed to be an incentive for the industry to get started . . . Complete story »
S.D. regulators accept one wind-farm escrow plan, but want to take a longer look at another
Escrow agreements for when two wind-energy projects in South Dakota stop producing electricity got different treatments Thursday from the state Public Utilities Commission. The commissioners accepted the plan for the Tatanka Ridge facility near the communities of Toronto and Brandt in Deuel County. But they informally agreed to look more closely at the arrangement offered for the Triple-H wind farm south of Highmore in Hyde County. Escrow accounts are intended to protect landowners when projects shut down several decades later. . . . Complete story »
NextEra official gets earful from S.D. regulators over road damage at Crowned Ridge wind site
The supervisor for a company that owns a wind farm being constructed in northeastern South Dakota was on the receiving end of criticism Tuesday from all three members of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. The commissioners made clear they want NextEra Energy Resources to be prompter in having local roads repaired at the Crowned Ridge project in Codington and Grant counties. Their comments were polite but blunt to Sean Harrington. He oversees project construction for the Florida-based company. Commission . . . Complete story »
Land plan is key for allowing wind projects, SDSU guide says
Prioritizing a plan for farmland and grassland while considering a possible wind turbine project is important, a state expert says. A new guide from South Dakota State University Extension covers the best management practices for restoring native grasslands and sensitive sites that are impacted by energy or industrial development. The author, SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist Pete Bauman, said the guide is pointed toward South Dakota landowners who are considering or already have allowed wind development. Turbines, of course, don’t . . . Complete story »
Wind farms come with big problems
I read the recent letter by Kathy Krause “Beware of wind tower agreements” (Aug. 29). I did not sign up for wind turbines, but I look out my window and count 13 turbines within two miles, and they are 590 feet tall. These giant 3.8 megawatt turbines are the tallest on-shore turbines in the United States. The Public Utilities Commission was not concerned about testing them first. We sleep in the basement most of the time now, but lots of . . . Complete story »
