A proposal for a grid of 400-foot-high wind turbines miles northwest of Taos has hit some turbulence. The wind farm plan by Taos Wind Power LLC, was blocked by the Taos County Commission last week when it reversed earlier approval by the county Planning Commission.

New Mexico's Public Regulation Commission ruled yesterday that companies that place renewable energy installations on the property of a customer and then sell the energy from the installation to the customer shouldn't be regulated as public utilities. ...renewable energy companies and advocates protested, saying the regulation of such on-site energy production would harm the burgeoning clean energy economy.

A year after it was granted preliminary approval, a proposed wind farm near Tres Piedras met with denial by the Taos County Commission. ...The county's formal findings and conclusions will be brought before the commission for approval Jan. 5, after which the applicant will have 30 days to appeal the commission's decision. "There were a lot of problems with that application," Martínez said. "I think it would be irresponsible to come in with the same application."

The Ellis County Commission unanimously approved road maintenance, payment-in-lieu-of-taxes and decommissioning agreements between the county and Hays Wind LLC on Monday night. All three agreements are pending approval by Hays Wind representatives. ...The PILOT replaces property tax collection on the project, which is exempt under state law.

Sunflower Wind's suit claims Arlwin manufactured blades for three tublines, two of which were installed in Lane County and the third in Smith County. On Nov. 4, the suit alleges, Sunflower Wind removed the blades from one turbine in Lane County and learned the blades were "severely cracked."

Ellis County commissioners said Monday night they would meet in open session with Counselor Dennis Davidson at next week's meeting to discuss a few final details with decommissioning, road maintenance and payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements. "We're at the point now where we know what we need as a county," Commission Chairman Perry Henman said.