All in a day’s work… AFCL rocks!
July 16th, 2018
WOW! Who knew this many people would turn out, well, after all, it is Association of Freeborn County Landowners, talk about an active, thriving bunch! What an incredible job of organizing, lining up live auction donations, oh, and making pudding shots… ja, I’m an old fart, jello shots bring back memories, but pudding? This group has shown up, and worked together to be heard — each and every one of you has made the difference in this groundbreaking challenge to Freeborn Wind’s application. Keep up the good work! And thank you!!!
And of course, the satellite office:
This morning, pelicans on the lake! How cool is that! This is the view out the office window:
And it took 2+ years, but I think I’ve finally got the camper kitchen figured out. Before last trip added the Camp Chef stove, and this trip, added a table for the stove, and Alan made leg extensions for the prep table, and voila, a workable kitchen! Everything in its place and a place for everything.
p.s. phone signal is great!
Yes, wind developers and promoters are ALARMED!
June 13th, 2018
The Star Tribune gets it — what will it take for developers and promoters to get it, and to get to work and help fix the wind siting rules, practices, and procedures? What is it going to take for developers and promoters get that they need to deal with the demonstrated problems with siting, rather than distract and divert? We need wind siting rules, standards, and procedures people can live with. This is 20+ years overdue. It is no coincidence that with the first siting docket to utilize the proper siting criteria, the first siting docket to hold a contested case, we get that result. Wind has been sited improperly for 20+ years now. Let’s deal with this going forward, have a wind siting rulemaking, develop appropriate wind siting standards (not like the bogus 2008 attempt), and looking back, develop a workable complaint process and address problems with operating projects. Just quit the dodging and weaving… They’re terrified, yet dig in their heels and flail rather than deal with it… (I mean really, all the cut and paste comments, good grief, is that the best they can do?)
Judge’s ruling against Minnesota wind farm causes alarm for advocates
They say judge’s opposition to proposal could threaten future of the industry.
Exceptions to ALJ’s Freeborn Recommendation
June 9th, 2018
Here’s the Recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge.
In short:
Exceptions of parties to the Freeborn Wind siting permit proceeding:
Freeborn_Exceptions_20186-143678-02
Exceptions of “affected parties”
Cookie cutter cut and paste form letters with minor modifications:
Here’s a late filed one, another form letter:
Freeborn Wind transmission hearing TONIGHT!
May 31st, 2018
Tonight is the public hearing, using the “Alternative Review Process,” for the transmission for the Freeborn Wind Project, the very same project that has been recommended be denied by the Administrative Law Judge:
WE WON!!! ALJ Recommend Freeborn Permit be DENIED, or…
Be there or be square:
What’s at issue? Most important is “need” and lack thereof. Under Minesota Rules, need may not be addressed in the environmental review:
BUT, where there is no Certificate of Need, issues of size, type and timing MAY be addressed — the prohibition of addressing need only applies where a Certificate of Need has been issued:
7850.4200 FACTORS EXCLUDED.
When the Public Utilities Commission has issued a Certificate of Need for a large electric power generating plant or a high voltage transmission line or placed a high voltage transmission line on the certified HVTL list maintained by the commission, questions of need, including size, type, and timing, questions of alternative system configurations, and questions of voltage shall not be factors considered by the commission in deciding whether to issue a permit for a proposed facility.
There is no Certificate of Need required or issued for this project, and so “questions of need, including size, type, and timing, questions of alternative system configurations, and questions of voltage” are fair game.
In this case, it’s particularly relevant where the ALJ has recommended the project site permit be denied! No project, no transmission needed.
Off to Albert Lea!
Freeborn Wind hearing just ended…
February 22nd, 2018
KAAL’s star witness!
It’s over, only two days, well, three, the public hearing was on Tuesday, lots and lots of people attended and spoke up.
This was before the public hearing started, and not long after it started they added two more sections o seating over on our side to my right. It was a god crowd, articulate and well spoken.
The AP article about this project is all over the country.
New rebellion against wind energy stalls or stops projects:
Enough, you get the idea…