www.windaction.orgfacts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impactsWindactionhttp://www.windaction.org/articles/c112+84?theme=atomXarayar2006-06-12T02:16:27Z
Xcel seeks termination of agreement with troubled wind project .385332013-05-31T10:45:05Z2013-05-31T10:45:05ZJim Alders, Xcel's director of regulatory affairs, said Thursday that New Era has "failed to meet the requirements" of the 2010 contract, which required PUC approval. Attempts since December to cure the defaults have failed, prompting the recent action.Xcel wants out of Goodhue wind deal .385122013-05-29T18:05:18Z2013-05-29T18:05:18ZJim Alders, Xcel's directory of regulatory affairs, said Wednesday that Xcel had been committed to the agreement but informed New Era in December that it needed to resolve outstanding issues with the project by early May.
"We gave them [New Era] until now to cure those problems and they have not," he said. "We finally reached the point where the contract gives us the right to terminate."Xcel, wind project at odds over 2010 agreement.383842013-05-17T02:14:24Z2013-05-17T02:14:24ZThe Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is waiting to hear from Xcel Energy and New Era Wind in Goodhue County about what changes have taken place in the controversial wind project's power purchase agreement.Xcel looks to end New Era Wind contracts.383472013-05-11T13:19:48Z2013-05-11T13:19:48ZNew Era was given until Sunday May 12 to resolve a delay in the production of a 78-megawatt wind farm in Goodhue County that is causing the company to default on an agreement to sell generated power, said Jim Alders of Xcel Energy.Earth Day postmark stirs up wind opponents.382422013-04-30T11:49:19Z2013-04-30T11:49:19Z"We are VERY unappreciative of this symbol being used by the USPS for Earth Day," Marie McNamara recently emailed postal officials in Washington. "Thanks for putting us on record as strongly objecting to the symbol of industrial wind turbines as a postmark. Thanks for putting us on record as wanting to see the postmark go away immediately."Last gasp for controversial Minnesota wind farm?.381612013-04-23T16:53:09Z2013-04-23T16:53:09ZA letter from the owner of a proposed wind farm to regulators shows his frustration in the permitting process and a willingness to sell off assets of his investment.
"New Era has no confidence that due process for this project will ever end, nor that an ABPP (Avian and Bat Protection Plan) will ever be approved, however comprehensively and carefully drafted," said Peter Mastic, owner of New Era Wind Farm, in an April 17 letter to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. New Era trying to sell wind rights.380972013-04-18T16:28:29Z2013-04-18T16:28:29Z"New Era initiated discussion with NSP (Xcel Energy that was going to buy the wind power) to assign its power contracts to a third-party wind project developer and site," he wrote in a letter dated Wednesday. Three companies are interested and could get turbines turning this year or 2014. "Each of these projects is sited in a community that is far more receptive to wind energy than is Goodhue," he wrote.Judge sides with Xcel, throws out wind-farm suit.379672013-04-05T12:12:27Z2013-04-05T12:12:27ZU.S. District Judge Michael Davis dismissed a lawsuit filed by the developer of the 100-turbine Merricourt project, which remains unbuilt amid lingering fears that whooping cranes and piping plovers will be slashed to death by its turbine blades.EcoHarmony eliminates 113 turbines to get PUC approval.378562013-03-25T17:15:04Z2013-03-25T17:15:04ZThe 171-turbine, 280-megawatt project - which would have been the largest wind project in Minnesota - was reduced to a 58-turbine, 116-megawatt development by eliminating many of the turbines that had been targeted by critics. Issues remain before the project will break ground. Per Thursday's approval, Gamesa must submit an avian and bat protection plan.Fillmore County wind project seeks to have permit extended.377862013-03-20T16:25:33Z2013-03-20T16:25:33ZThe most significant blow to the project may have been delivered last week, when PUC staff filed briefing papers. Staff recommended that the commission deny the requested amendments or table the request, require an avian and bat protection plan to be created and - perhaps most importantly - initiate potential revocation proceedings "since the permittee has not commenced construction."Plug pulled on huge local wind project.376242013-03-06T19:22:09Z2013-03-06T19:22:09ZThe plug has reportedly been pulled on what could have been the largest wind project in Minnesota history.
EDP Renewables, formerly Horizon Wind, recently mailed project participants in Goodhue, Rice, Dodge and Steele counties letters informing them that the initial contract period was up and it would not be renewed.New Era wind project delayed again before packed house at PUC.375622013-03-01T13:08:26Z2013-03-01T13:08:26ZThe Minnesota Public Utilities Commission took another pass Thursday in deciding the fate of the controversial New Era wind project in Goodhue County. The commissioners voted unanimously to re-open the certificate of need docket, which was previously approved by the PUC in June 2011.Regulators put off decision on south Minnesota wind farm.375592013-03-01T04:35:37Z2013-03-01T04:35:37ZThe Minnesota Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously Thursday, Feb. 28, to re-examine the 78-megawatt New Era Wind Farm proposed for the area around Belle Creek, Zumbrota and Goodhue townships.Goodhue wind project faces blowback.375612013-02-28T04:41:40Z2013-02-28T04:41:40ZThe delay is just the latest in a string of setbacks for the project, which ran into resistance as soon as it was introduced four years ago. Turbines were originally expected to be spinning by the end of 2011.
Representatives for the developer acknowledged the project was taking longer than anticipated and that they remained uncertain how soon construction could begin if regulatory hurdles were overcome.
