facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts Windaction http://www.windaction.org/articles/c102+112?theme=atom Xarayar 2006-06-12T02:16:27Z .38340 2013-05-07T02:55:36Z 2013-05-07T02:55:36Z

Oak Tree Energy attempted in 2010 to negotiate with NorthWestern. The utility refused to buy the power, saying the additional electricity wasn't necessary. Oak Tree Energy turned to the PUC in April 2011. Oak Tree used a federal law known as the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 as the basis for its complaint.

.36026 2012-09-14T12:24:58Z 2012-09-14T12:24:58Z

.34783 2012-04-12T15:03:58Z 2012-04-12T15:03:58Z

Reed and Scott paid phone solicitors to make cold calls to investors, telling them that the wind farms were being constructed jointly by private investors and the U.S. government. Potential stakeholders were told that "government funds had been set aside by the President of the United States ...these alleged wind farm projects."

.33464 2011-10-30T18:48:21Z 2011-10-30T18:48:21Z

A Florida energy developer has suspended the permitting process for a 150-megawatt wind project in Hyde County, citing uncertainty about a power customer. ...Earlier this year, NextEra put the brakes on an environmental review for Crowned Ridge, the company's proposed 150-megawatt project.

.33367 2011-10-19T13:03:55Z 2011-10-19T13:03:55Z

NextEra "decided not to move forward" with the review "until we have greater clarity on several issues including securing a customer for the output," Steve Stengel, a spokesman for the Juno Beach, Florida-based company, said today in an e- mail.

.32985 2011-09-10T12:03:16Z 2011-09-10T12:03:16Z

"I can confirm that we are contemplating the sale of our Brandon, S.D., idle tower facility to reduce our manufacturing footprint," said John Segvich, director of marketing communications with Broadwind Energy.

.32496 2011-07-18T15:07:56Z 2011-07-18T15:07:56Z

Developers point to the usual culprit - a longstanding lack of adequate transmission - but also to a prolonged slump in electricity demand, sluggish growth in the broader economy and rock-bottom prices for natural gas, which competes with wind.

.32195 2011-06-15T18:32:49Z 2011-06-15T18:32:49Z

With no mandate in South Dakota to use renewable energy, "Anything your local provider is doing is simply out of generation needs," Glanzer said. "Obviously, there is a push to go forward with renewable but ...you want to make sure the price of that renewable resource is not going to affect your customers or your business in a negative way."

.32183 2011-06-14T22:05:46Z 2011-06-14T22:05:46Z

Renewable resource projects like a wind farm are riskier because they typically cost more to build and operate for the amount of power they provide. The commission could eventually rule that such an extra cost should not be borne by ratepayers when a traditional power source like a coal plant is available.

.31984 2011-05-18T10:06:18Z 2011-05-18T10:06:18Z

Oak Tree's first offer to Northwestern set the avoided cost at $69.20 per megawatt hour. Its final offer, tendered in February, was $54.40 per megawatt hour with a 2.5 percent annual increase. Northwestern wasn't interested.

.30563 2010-12-29T20:27:18Z 2010-12-29T20:27:18Z

As a wind-turbine factory in Pipestone, Minn., lays off most of its workers, competitors in South Dakota and Iowa are booming. ...The stark differences among the three Midwestern manufacturers show how business can blow hot and cold in what is still a young and growing wind-power industry.

.30454 2010-12-20T22:05:55Z 2010-12-20T22:05:55Z

All of the tax credits that help wind power become affordable to consumers are directed in hopes of having tax benefits, but the cooperatives don't pay taxes and haven't been eligible. But as part of the federal stimulus package, the Treasury Department created a renewable energy grant program that provided an opportunity for South Dakota Wind Partners to develop a community-based wind project so average people could invest.

.28472 2010-07-24T12:40:13Z 2010-07-24T12:40:13Z

Wind tower production in the 115,000-square-foot Tower Tech Systems building in the Corson Development Park remains on hold because the company hasn't secured enough contracts, according to a company spokesman.

.27000 2010-04-28T17:11:35Z 2010-04-28T17:11:35Z

A company that makes and repairs wind turbine blades said Wednesday it is laying off about one-third of the work force at its plant in the eastern South Dakota town of Howard. Knight & Carver Wind Group Inc. is laying off 16 of the Howard plant's 55 workers this week, and the firm might temporarily close the plant.

.26399 2010-03-25T14:39:50Z 2010-03-25T14:39:50Z

Gov. Mike Rounds has signed into law a bill aimed at giving South Dakota landowners more protection when they grant easements allowing construction of wind towers on their property.

.25682 2010-02-16T19:17:16Z 2010-02-16T19:17:16Z

A small wind turbine won't be going up on Aberdeen public school grounds, school board members decided Monday. The board heard an update on the proposed wind turbine, part of the national Wind for Schools program, from Bob Pitz, the school district's director of operations. ...Assistant Superintendent Becky Guffin said the turbine wouldn't impact that many students. Financially, she said, the money could be better spent elsewhere.

.25532 2010-02-09T06:45:26Z 2010-02-09T06:45:26Z

A state legislator wants to require registration of locations where anemometers are placed to measure wind speeds in South Dakota. Rep. Jason Frerichs, D-Wilmot, said the registry would help crop pilots avoid the towers when they're spraying fields from the air. He said land owners in an area also would benefit by knowing who's conducting research there for possible development of wind farms.

.25533 2010-02-08T06:48:39Z 2010-02-08T06:48:39Z

A bill that would lengthen the amount of time to develop a wind energy project to as long as 50 years meets with some concern by one industry official. House Assistant Majority Leader Kristi Noem, R-Castlewood, wants to change the current limit, which is five years, for developers to have an easement - the right to use another person's land for a stated purpose - on wind projects. The bill is HB1263.

.25411 2010-02-02T06:02:41Z 2010-02-02T06:02:41Z

The Aberdeen City Council is considering an ordinance that would prohibit wind turbines within city limits and the 1-mile jurisdiction. The Council approved first reading of the ordinance on Monday. Second reading and final adoption could come next week.

.22299 2009-07-22T20:53:01Z 2009-07-22T20:53:01Z

A possible wind farm in eastern South Dakota will primarily be in Day and Clark counties, a spokesman for NextEra Energy Resources said Tuesday. ...Day County Commissioner Mark Wattier said the wind farm likely will be built mostly in southwestern Day County and northwestern Clark County.