Kansas

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House with turbines

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Spearville, KS wind plant (2006)

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Spearville, KS wind plant (2005)

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Smoky Hills wind facility (4)

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Smoky Hills wind facility (3)

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Smoky Hills wind facility (2)

[ Impact on Landscape ]

Smoky Hills wind facility (1)

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Spearville (KS)

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Blairsburg (IW)

[ General | Impact on Landscape ]

Elk River (KS) After

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Elk River (KS) Before

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Wind turbines in Gray County

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Ellis County Zoning: anticipating the opportunity for personal gain

Posted by: Lisa on November 20, 2009 1:13:28 PM

The one piece of business discussed by the commission came from Commissioner Keith Campbell. Mr. Campbell proposed that the commission adopt a bylaw which said that when considering board business, if a commissioner "anticipated the opportunity" to personally benefit by the action of the board in the value of $1000 or more, that commissioner should publicly state that. ...Because of the avowed interest of some current and past members of the zoning commission in securing personal contracts with corporations seeking to put wind energy conversion systems in Ellis County, some members of the public were interested in greater transparency in the operation of the zoning board.

Note : http://www.kansasfreepress.com/2009/11/hays-kansas---the-ellis.html

Wind industry faces 'Prairie Rebellion' in Kansas County

Posted by: Lisa on November 05, 2009 11:28:10 AM

Local governments are beginning to flex their permitting authority to challenge commercial-scale wind farms, a trend some industry observers say could impede broader federal efforts to expand renewable energy production. The latest round in the emerging battle between local governments and wind-energy developers occurred last week in Kansas, where the state Supreme Court upheld a Wabaunsee County zoning ordinance banning industrial-scale wind ...Experts say the Wabaunsee ordinance, unanimously upheld by the Kansas court, is a key test of local governments' power to effectively ban large-scale wind farms, as opposed to blocking a specific project or proposal.

Note : http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/11/05/05greenwire-wind-industry-faces-prairie-rebellion-in-kansa-34024.html?pagewanted=all

Kansas Supreme Court rules against wind farms

Posted by: Lisa on October 30, 2009 7:29:39 PM

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled Friday that Wabaunsee County commissioners have the right to prohibit the construction of commercial wind farms in their county. But the court also questioned whether an ordinance banning commercial farms but allowing smaller wind generators for personal use violated some provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Commissioners adopted the ordinance in 2004. In a unanimous decision, the court acknowledged the commission's concerns about potential harm to the aesthetics and ecology of the Flint Hills if huge wind turbines were erected in Wabaunsee County.

Note : http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gc2_YZHb9t3a3jSD0gj6zmLx341wD9BLMGHG0

Kansas Supreme Court upholds ban on commercial wind farms in scenic Flint Hills

Posted by: Lisa on October 29, 2009 7:12:49 PM

In a case pitting the beauty of the Flint Hills against large wind farms, the Flint Hills won. The Kansas Supreme Court ruled Friday in favor of a zoning ordinance in Wabaunsee County that prohibits commercial wind farms. Poised as the third best state in the country for wind power and on the cusp of a renewable energy revolution, Kansas has the potential to be at the epicenter of the wind industry.

Note : http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/oct/30/kansas-supreme-court-upholds-ban-commercial-wind-f/

Transmission project re-energized

Posted by: Lisa on October 28, 2009 9:11:15 PM

While it appeared briefly Monday that the lights were out on a proposed high-voltage electric transmission line that would serve the state's growing wind industry, officials recharged the plan Tuesday. The Southwest Power Pool Inc.'s board of directors on Tuesday included the $518 million "Spearville line" in a package of transmission expansion projects it was forwarding for further study and probable approval. The 765-kilovolt line would go from Spearville, the site of a wind farm in southwest Kansas, to Wichita and down to the Oklahoma border, where it could hook into lines to other states.

Note : http://www.gctelegram.com/News/Transmission-line

County talks setback requirements, but takes no action again

Posted by: Lisa on October 27, 2009 4:35:31 PM

After months of information gathering, Ellis County commissioners revisited proposed changes to the county's zoning regulations during Monday's meeting. However, they still took no action on the changes. Specifically, commissioners discussed proposed changes to setback requirements and noise standards in the regulations. Commissioner Glenn Diehl said he wants to protect platted, multiple-lot developments in the county the most. He proposed a 1.5-mile setback for wind turbine location from those areas.

Note : http://www.hdnews.net/Story/county102709

Wind turbine plan passes

Posted by: Lisa on September 23, 2009 9:17:26 AM

A project to put up a wind turbine at Hope Street Academy generated a civics lesson for students there, five of whom asked the city's governing body Tuesday evening to allow small wind energy systems to operate in Topeka for nonresidential purposes. The governing body, which includes the city council and Mayor Bill Bunten, subsequently voted 10-0 to approve an ordinance making that move and a companion measure requiring users of wind energy systems to acquire a conditional-use permit from the governing body.

Note : http://cjonline.com/news/local/2009-09-22/wind_turbine_plan_passes