It’s been a busy couple of weeks in wind in Goodhue County.

It’s all about whether there is indeed anything more than vaporware to the Goodhue Wind Project.  And there’s also that pesky little Community Based Energy Development statute, and whether this project is a C-BED project.

T. Boone Pickens has waved goodbye to the Goodhue Wind Project.

Pickens exits Minnesota project for undisc fee

And in the STrib, some interesting details:

T. Boone Pickens departs state wind project

Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens has sold his stake in a controversial wind farm proposed in Goodhue County, Minn., but its new owner says the project is going ahead.

Dallas-based American Wind Alliance, founded by Pickens in 2009, said Friday that it has sold 100 percent of the company behind the Minnesota project, whose name has been changed to New Era Wind Farm LLC. The financial terms were not disclosed.

The proposed 50-turbine wind farm, once estimated to cost $180 million, would be located west of the city of Goodhue, about 60 miles southeast of the Twin Cities. Citizens have fought the project because of concerns about potential noise and unpleasant shadows from spinning blades and about threats to protected eagles and bats that might hit the blades.

Peter Mastic, who formerly headed a Minneapolis wind development firm that worked on the project, said in an interview Friday that he is the sole employee and owner of New Era Wind Farm.

Mastic said he intends to pursue the project with the help of a local advisory board and, eventually, local investors. The advisory board of local farmers decided on the new company name, he added.

“They wanted something that signified a re-engagement with the community and a new beginning,” said Mastic, who indicated that the board members’ names will be disclosed later.

Although the project has a site permit from the state Public Utilities Commission, its avian and bat protection plan is pending. Mastic said the company will submit a revised plan and will seek a federal permit for the “incidental take” or killing of protected species.

Pickens’ company, Mesa Power, said it believes the Goodhue project will be built. “For strategic reasons, Mesa Power is redeploying its wind development efforts,” the company said in a statement.

Mastic said he will go ahead with the project even if the federal production tax credit for wind farms is allowed to expire on Dec. 31. The fate of many wind energy projects hinges on whether the subsidy is extended by Congress, which won’t consider the matter before the elections.

Xcel Energy, based in Minneapolis, would buy electricity from the wind farm as part of a commitment under a state law to purchase energy from community-based producers.

Until July, Mastic was the CEO of Minneapolis-based National Wind, which launched the Goodhue project, but ended its role as developer in August. National Wind recently was acquired by Trishe Wind Energy Inc., a wind development group based in India.

Pickens, a Texas oil and gas entrepreneur, was recently listed by Forbes magazine as the 360th richest American, with a net worth of $1.2 billion.

But before the Pickens announcement, we got word that December of 2011, LAST YEAR, National Wind was sold to Trishe Wind, a company in India.  Then we learn that Trishe Wind doesn’t want to take on the Goodhue Wind project!  Check the “Portfolio of Projects” on their site.  Posted September 26, 2012, reporting a December 2011 sale:

National Wind Acquired by Trishe Wind Energy

Minneapolis, MN – September 26, 2012: National Wind LLC has been acquired by Trishe Wind Energy Inc. Trishe Wind Energy is part of Trishe Energy Group, founded in India. Trishe Energy Group is an international developer of wind energy with over 4000 MW of wind projects completed or under development in the U.S. and India. For additional information go to www.trishe.com.

Under its new ownership, National Wind—A Trishe Group Company continues to develop community-partnered wind projects in the U.S. Since the beginning of 2012, National Wind has added five members to its Minneapolis-based workforce. For additional information go to www.nationalwind.com.
The development agreement between National Wind and the American Wind Alliance (the equity owners of AWA Goodhue) with respect to the Goodhue project has been terminated as of the end of August 2012.

Vivek Mittal, President of Trishe Wind Energy and President of National Wind, is serving as acting CEO of National Wind. He replaces Peter Mastic, who is no longer employed by National Wind.

“AWA Goodhue” Compliance Filing, September 17, 2012

PUC Burl Haar’s Letter, September 20, 2012

Which was followed up by an Information Request from Tricia DeBleekere:

PUC’s Information Request, October 11, 2012

SNORT!  Let’s see them answer that!

And Mastic sent in another Compliance Filing that must have crossed in the mail with the PUC’s IR like two ships passing in the night:

New Era Wind Farm Compliance Filing, October 12, 2012

The Secretary of State reports that a New Era Wind Farm LLC was born on December 14, 2009, and was amended October 8th and 10th, 2012.

Now we find out…

CT Corporation System, at 100 So. 5th Str #1075, Mpls, is one of those mail-order incorporators that provide a “Registered Office Address” for service in Minnesota.  Note the mailing address!

From Dogs Against Romney, it’s up and installed!!!  And don’t bother stealing it, I’ve got replacements!

For more, see Dogs Against Romney

My dear Krie who came from the Humane Society in 2005

4th Annual

Humane Society of Goodhue County

Gala Dinner & Silent Auction

Thursday, October 11^th, 2012, at the St. James Hotel
Laurentine Room (Main Floor off the Hoopskirt Bar)

6-7 pm Reception, Cash Bar & Silent Auction
7 pm Dinner, prepared by the chefs at the St. James & Presentations

Presentations by Anna Ostendorf, Humane Society Executive Director,
Nancy with READ (Reading Education Assistance Dogs),
and Kay Elliot, author of Sundogs: Journey to the Great Windmill

Dinner will be:
Mixed Greens Salad
Ginger Chicken (6 oz Grilled Chicken Breast with Fresh Ginger Chutney Studded with Dried Apricots, Cherries, & Golden Raisins )
Mediterranean Cous Cous
Honey Butter Glazed Carrots
with a Raspberry White Chocolate Torte for dessert
(Coffee and Iced Water is included, soft drinks and cocktails may be ordered from the Hoopskirt Bar)

Tickets available at the Humane Society and online below…
Ticket prices through September 30: $45/person , $75/couple, $280/table of 8

CLICK & BUY TICKETS HERE NOW!

The South Dakota Hyperion Refinery and IGCC plant, “affectionately” known as the Gorilla project, is being challenged by Sierra Club, Save Union County, and Citizens Opposed to Oil Pollution, and here is a link to watch/hear the arguments before the South Dakota Supreme Court, a BIG thank you to Sioux Falls’ Arugs Leader for putting up this link (I lost it 2/3 of the way through, and am trying to get back there):

Hyperion Supreme Court Arguments

Sierra Club, et al., are represented by Gabrielle Segal and Robert Graham, There’s a really annoying 60 cycle hum, grrrrrrrrrr…

WOW, at least one judge on this case doesn’t understand the difference between the South Dakota state PSC’s construction permit, an air permit, and an Environmental Impact Statement, another asked a surprising question about authority, I’d guess this hasn’t come up often in South Dakota.  Looks like there’s very little understanding of what the scope of environmental review should be and how environmental review fits within permitting review for a project, questions about jurisdiction and authority.  Oh my… the judge on the far right is astounding ignorant of fundamental administrative and permit law, and it seems he’s looking to limit what is under review in this case… oh… my… dog..

Sierra Club Hyperion timeline

All the attorneys are doing a good job, direct and specific responses to questions, well argued.  But the questions from the Supreme Court justices…. very disturbing… seems they’ve not read the briefs or looked up the statutes at issue.

A few reports in the media:

South Dakota Supreme Court asked to strike down permit

Hyperion “committed” to building in Union County South Dakota

There’s a repository of info in this case on the Sierra Club’s Hyperion site, but it takes a password to get into it, so I’ve requested, am waiting, and will post more info as it becomes available.