LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Few questions remain on Stoneray Wind Farm permit process 

Credit:  By Mavis Fodness | Pipestone County Star | January 31, 2014 | /www.pipestonestar.com ~~

The turnout was good but few questions were asked during a recent public hearing for the Stoneray Wind Farm, a 105 MW project proposed for eastern Pipestone County and western Murray County.

An estimated 30 to 40 people attended the Jan. 14 public hearing at the Herbert Holtke American Legion Post 285, in Lake Wilson according to Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) spokesperson Dan Wolf. The purpose of the public hearing was to gather public input into the recently drafted environmental report.

The report lists the potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed project and potential alternatives. The report also lists what stipulations need to be followed during the construction process.

About the same number of people attended an earlier information meeting in August. Five questions were asked to of the project at that time.

Three questions were asked at the most recent meeting where representatives from the PUC, Minnesota Department of Commerce and Stoneray Wind Farm were available to provide answers. The questions pertained to if the project would move forward, what type of turbine had been selected and when the project would begin.

Wolf said his staff doesn’t interpret anything in the lack of questions asked at public hearings.

“The entire record of the case is considered by the Commission in making their final decision,” he said.

The final report will be used by the five-member PUC to determine whether or not the proposed project by EDF Renewable Energy of Minneapolis is needed, and if it should be constructed in southwest Minnesota. EDF proposes erecting up to 62-wind turbines north and east of Woodstock in Rock and Burke townships in Pipestone County and Cameron and Chanarambie townships in Murray County.

Contacted after the public meeting, Melissa Peterson, project manager with Stoneray Wind Farm, said “we are working through each phase” as the project moves forward in the permitting process, which takes nine to 12 months to complete. Stoneray’s certificate of need and site permit application was submitted in July 2013. The issuance of both is necessary before construction begins.

Late May or June has been tentatively set for the PUC to make a final decision, Wolf said.

If the PUC issues the necessary permits, Peterson said selection of the specific turbine model would be dependent on what was approved in the permit. Once construction begins, an estimated nine to 12 months is needed for construction. The timeline could be shorter or longer depending on weather conditions, she said.

The project wouldn’t be ready to go on-line until sometime in 2015, Peterson said.

Source:  By Mavis Fodness | Pipestone County Star | January 31, 2014 | /www.pipestonestar.com

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon