AWA Goodhue “swiftboating” Belle Creek Township!
December 16th, 2011
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T. Boone Pickens , a/k/a AWA Goodhue Wind, a/k/a Mesa Power, is at it again, and here come the helicopters!
First, let’s take a look-see at the Complaint that AWA Goodhue served on Belle Creek Township, the little township that could, and CAN, and DOES:
Monday, the Township had a meeting where they were to discuss the road agreement that’s in negotiations right now. The Township controls township roads, and AWA’s project would require a lot of road upgrading to support the very heavy trucks and cranes, meaning that the roadbed has to be made a lot deeper, meaning that corners have to be filled in so that trucks can get around the corners, culverts could easily be damaged by the weight, and this is something within the township’s jurisdiction. And the day after the Monday meeting, AWA Goodhue serves the Town Board Chair with a Complaint! Here’s what AWA wants:
How’s that for a punch line?!?! So the Township shouldn’t have any say over the roads, the Township isn’t able to protect its interests? Right… we shall see!
And as that’s happening, I started getting calls about very low flying airplanes, startling cows and horses, and residents too! One scared a calf, which climbed over its stall and ran off — they were able to get it, and were lucky it was not injured as it climbed over. Then today, it’s helicopters, with horses running every which way, windows rattling:
AWA Goodhue’s attorney did admit they were “their” aircraft. We got the number, N144BH, which “upon information and belief” is owned by “Brainerd Helicopter Service.” AWA Goodhue’s attorney says that they’re doing avian work as specified by their (filed yesterday) Avian and Bat Protection Plan (ABPP), which states:
You tell me, does this look like 200 feet? And anyway, exactly how is this the ABPP last word on anything?
Suffice it to say, the Sheriff is on it, and they’ve called in the FAA, apparently the FAA inspector is on it too.
Goodhue Wind Truth appeals PUC Order
September 22nd, 2011
It’s a complicated thing. The PUC made its oh-so-contorted decision on AWA’s Goodhue Wind Project:
And then we filed our Motions for Reconsideration… here’s one:
Today AWA filed their respose:
For all of them, go to www.puc.state.mn.us and click on the blue “Search eDockets” button and search for docket “08-1233” and “09-1186.”
So far on the Appellate site and the filings that we’ve exchanged (the Notice of Appeal was in my inbox before I got back to Red Wing, with a reference to Belle Creek, though not Goodhue County’s but their filings were in the inbox!):
Belle Creek Township’s Appeal – Initial Filings – Petition for Writ and Statement of Case
GWT – Appeal Notice & Initial Filings – Petition for Writ and Statement of Case
No Appellate Docket yet – Goodhue County
Goodhue County Appeal – Initial Pleading – Petition for Writ and Statement of Case
No Appellate Docket yet – Coalition for Sensible Siting
CSS Appeal – Initial Pleading – Petition for Write and Statement of Case
This is shaping up to be a “robust” appeal… I’m so tickled to see the county’s recognition and appreciation of Goodhue Wind Truth’s efforts (really, read the pleadings). And personally, it’s a thrill to see how far we’ve come since the struggle of the nuclear “in Goodhue County” days.