Two more "met" (meteorological) towers for the EcoEnergy wind power company were given initial approval by the Fillmore County Planning Commission during its monthly meeting Aug. 28 and will be passed along to the Fillmore County commissioners with a recommendation for approval.

One tower will be located on property owned by Dick Boice, in Section 7 of Harmony Township and the other on Rick Morem property in Section 20, also in Harmony Township.

The requests sailed through the Planning Commission process as EcoEnergy representative Don Miller, of its new Harmony office staff, explained some project details and answered questions. He noted that the office would have another local staff person starting on Sept. 11.

The wind project - which Miller reported to already have around 22,000 acres signed up - is expected to include 134 turbines and produce 200 megawatts of power. The met towers are used to record the speed, direction and air temperature.

"It helps to forecast the overall productivity of the project," he stated. Known as "Harmony West," it will run from Harmony to the Greenleafton area.

Miller noted that two met towers are already up, on the Les Prinsen and Richard Berg farms. This will make four total, with the company possibly going up to five met towers.

Planning Commission member Jim Keune asked why so many met towers were needed. Miller said that in looking at calculations, even being off by one-tenth of a mile-per-hour could run into millions of dollars over the life of a project.

Member Brad Erickson asked how the towers disrupt winds. Miller said towers need to be 1,500 feet apart to work out the turbulence created by any one tower. However, he did not know the impact.

Another Planning Commission member, Duane Bakke - also a county commissioner - asked about impact on roads during the construction of the turbines. Miller replied he was trying to get in touch with the county highway engineer and also hoped to get to township boards in the next six months in the wind farm area. He noted roads are an important part of the project, including possible upgrades to bridges.

Finally, Miller hoped that by this time in 2009 the construction project would be under way.

Other action

• The Planning Commission members set their next meeting for Thursday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. County zoning administrator Norm Craig said agenda items are scheduled to include approval of another met tower in Beaver Township, as well as consideration of rezoning ag property owned by Dan Moulton on the edge of Chatfield to industrial. Board members were reminded this action may be taken on property located within one-half mile of city limits, which Moulton's is.

• Also during the Aug. 28 meeting, the Board of Adjustment met and approved a variance for John and Ellen Whalen of Bristol Township, rural Harmony, to construct a deck and roof to the west side of their property, requiring a 21-ft. variance.

• Another Board of Adjustment item, was canceled. A month earlier David Swanson had sought a permit to have his park model recreational vehicle at the Eagle Cliff Campground between Lanesboro and Whalan. The request was turned down, with the Planning Commission citing new county regulations that had been enacted saying an RV in a campground must be able to be moved without special permits for road travel. Swanson withdrew his request for relief from that decision. It was understood he had moved the model to Wisconsin.