Wind project gets hearing
BROOKINGS, S.D. -- South Dakota Public Utilities Commission member Steve Kolbeck says a decision is pending on the $700 million, 306-megawatt Buffalo Ridge II wind farm proposed for land in Brookings and Deuel counties.
The commission held a public hearing Wednesday on the project, which would cover 77,000 acres of land and could include 204 wind turbines.
Kolbeck said the PUC doesn't have a specific date for a decision but, "obviously the clock is ticking very rapidly and we need to get a decision out the door, but we need to do it right.
"We'll take all of this information back and we'll make a decision from the information and the facts that we gather here today."
One of the 158 homes on the land belongs to Terrell Spence.
"I think the vast majority of us are in favor of alternative energy resources, but this has to do with the question of how it's done," said Spence, an opponent who added that five turbines would run just south of his land.
"Obviously when you have something like this and it comes into your area, you start asking questions," he said.
Supporters of Buffalo Ridge II said the area was picked because the available wind is among the best in the Midwest and because the area is served by a number of high-voltage transmission lines.
Backers also said many of the landowners are receptive and that neighboring projects have shown success.
Spence said he needs more proof. "To tell you the truth, I still think there's a lot of research to be done."
Buffalo Ridge would generate enough electricity to power 148,000 homes, developers said. Oregon-based Iberdrola Renewables wants to build the wind farm close to its two existing farms near White: the 54-megawatt Minn-Dakota farm and the 55-megawatt Buffalo Ridge I unit.
The project includes a 13-mile, 115-kilovolt overhead transmission line to connect to a collection substation near Brookings.