Goodhue Wind files application
October 26th, 2009
Here we go… Goodhue Wind, LLC has filed an application.
To see the docket, go to www.puc.state.mn.us and search for docket “08-1233.”
It came in the mail today, and I looked at the service list, and I don’t think these guys are very interested in public relations or being good neighbors.
I’m the only non-industry wonk on the service list, no one, not one of the many people who have expressed interest in this project, not one of the many people in the area who have filed comments on various dockets, not one of the many people who attended the wind meeting in Wanamingo a few months ago, NONE were included on the service list.
Let’s see, they first filed this sucker a year ago… and now they’re getting around to filing an amended application.
I’ll post links here soon…
Some of those are pretty big, and the “B-F” wouldn’t reduce, so it’s a link. Oh well…
Wanamingo Wind Forum
July 13th, 2009
Last Thursday, July 9, there was a Wind Energy Forum in Wanamingo, the same Community Center where, about three weeks prior, there was a CapX 2020 scoping meeting. This was sponsored by Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (Rich Huelskamp is part of that now?).
Noteworthy comments:
Dean Runde, Pioneer Prairie, when asked about turbine noise, said: “I’m surrounded by turbines, and I don’t hear a thing. They’re half a mile away and I don’t hear a thing.”
Half a mile? But of course you can’t hear them! Try 800 feet, 500 feet!!!
The author of the Dept. of Health White Paper was on a panel also. Here’s that report:
The woman representing National Wind looked very unhappy. Maybe it was the talk of setbacks, and I’m sure it was the talk of how developers are involving all the neighbors. After all, Goodhue County has been a problem. First, there was the ill-conceived “Kenyon Wind,” and then there was Goodhue Wind. But what I found most enlightening, which I’m sure the National Wind folks wouldn’t like, was a Windustry handout about landowner leases which has a number of things for landowners to watch out for. Here’s one that stands out:
7. Landowner should be careful about agreeing to the following types of provisions:
(a) Confidentiality provisions which prohibit Landowner from disclosing information pertaining to the
terms and conditions of the lease/easement.
Here’s the Windustry handout:
Of concern — I’ve been hearing reports of non-disclosure provisions in Nicollet County, Bent Tree and Goodhue projects, but copies of the actual contracts have not been produced, so we’ll see…
And for some guidance, here’s a draft county ordinance regarding wind turbines that has a more reasonable setback:
Murray County did well in getting turbines set back far enough from roads, but I’d like to see more distance in basic setbacks. Where they set setbacks at 3 or 5 rotor diameters, I’d like to see it at 3 or 5 total tower height (including up to tip of rotor when extended straight up).
Here’s the report from the Beagle:
Residents flood wind energy forum
By: Jen Cullen, The Republican Eagle
RELATED CONTENTLantz evaluates the economic development impacts of wind power.