Bluster blather from Kenyon Wind
December 31st, 2010
Oh, man, I am really scared now!!! See something new every day… John Daniels has filed the following “Notice of Intent” letter on behalf of Kenyon Wind, LLC:
EH? Oh, OK, ja, sure, whatever… I’ll just shake and quake in my boots until the Motion for Reconsideration is really filed… Notice of Intent? WTF? Never seen one of those before!
…. yawn….
Remember, Kenyon Wind was the first C-BED project out of the chute, oh, excuse me, not THAT C-BED, but THIS C-BED, the statute. Kenyon Wind was a wind project promoted by the principals of non-profit Windustry, and Kenyon Wind was the wind project that planned to put a turbine and substation on former Speaker Steve Sviggum’s land (see Section 13 on the R)…
…and I’m sure you all remember how helpful the Speaker was in passing the 2005 Chapter 97 – Transmission Omnibus Bill from Hell that gave birth to C-BED and gave the utilities everything they every wanted and more to be able to go forward with CapX 2020 transmission criss-crossing the state with transmission for export:
In the meantime, see the following (the one posted just above this) post on how it’s done. Todd Guererro, on behalf of AWA Goodhue Wind, has filed one even better, a Notice of Motion and Motion for Summary Disposition. Yup, AWA Goodhue Wind has a disposition problem all right!
PUC Denies Kenyon Wind Extension!
December 9th, 2010
After four years, finally, the Public Utilities Commission has denied an extension of the old, old permit. Kenyon Wind was first applied for way back in 2006. To see the full PUC record, go to www.puc.state.mn.us and go to “Search eDockets” and then search for “06-1445.” Recently, because their permit was expiring, it was granted and then two years was extended for two years, they came back to the PUC for yet another extension.
Here’s the report from the Red Wing Republican Eagle:
Kenyon Wind project in doubt after state denies permit extension
They haven’t built this project, despite being issued a permit on July 18, 2007, nearly a year after they’d applied. Since that time, much has changed. Goodhue County passed its Goodhue County Wind Ordinance. The laws for Community Based Energy Development (C-BED) have changed, amended each year since it was passed. And the Kenyon Wind Project has changed:
Here’s the CFER’s Comment:
Here’s Kenyon Wind’s comments:
And the PUC denied the permit, 3-2. Commissioners Pugh, O’Brien and Wergin voting to Chair Boyd and Judge Reha were the two voting against denial of Kenyon Wind’s request for extension.
EEEEEEEEEEEEE-HA!!! It took four years, but this vaporware project is finally dead!
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.
US Chamber launches “NIMBY” website
March 23rd, 2009
The Chamber’s theory: When under siege without a valid argument, start tossing around labels!
It’s weird, they’re missing a lot, missing a lot of states, a lot of projects, and it’s odd the ones they’re picking.
Delaware Projects – NONE
Maryland Projects – NONE
New Jersey Projects – NONE
When the Chamber stick their ham-handed hocks in, that tells me they’re worried they’re represented interests aren’t going to get their way!
The US Chamber sure has changed a lot since Bob Jacobsen worked for them…