Gamesa presents new wind project to commissioners
Jack County commissioners received official notice Monday of a new wind energy project during a regular meeting of the court.
Representatives from Gamesa Energy were present to detail Senate Wind LLC and lay the groundwork for a request for a re-investment zone.
Project developer Colin Kelly from Gamesa Energy outlined the project, which would include 75 G87, 2.0MW, turbines that cover parts of Jack and Young counties. According to Kelly, 63 of the turbines fall within Jack County, while the remaining will be captured by Young County.
Kelly touted the advantages a wind farm brings: job creation, clean energy, income for the community and payments to landowners. He discounted negatives regarding wind energy projects that include lighting problems, stray voltage, decreased land value and the turbines' unsightly appearance.
"Seventy-seven percent of participants in previously built wind parks approve of their appearance," Kelly said.
He went on to say that the projects are for the most part welcomed by the community.
"Basically, we don't build where there is opposition," Kelly said.
He did, however, point out a problem with Barton Chapel Wind Energy, which was built by Gamesa and later sold to Iberdrola and steps being taken not to create the same difficulties with the Senate project.
Engineer Andrew Golder of Gamesa Wind, the turbine manufacturing arm of the company, addressed this problem and the new technology that he promises will effectively eliminate the issue in the Senate project.
He explained that new nacelle covers, fan controls and cooling fans, along with noise dampening foam, will put a damper on the noise. In addition, noise from the mechanisms will be diverted up instead of down as is the current procedure.
"That way the wind itself will carry the noise away," Golder explained.
Gamesa tax consultant Dale Cummings asked commissioners to think about a re-investment zone and tax abatement similar to one granted to the Barton Chapel project.
He said his company is the process of finalizing legal land descriptions and he will soon ask to appear before the court to formally request the re-investment zone.
After a brief recess, Precinct 2 Commissioner Bryson Sewell went on the record to point out that "this is the first time we have spoken about this project" despite grumblings to the contrary.
He also questioned the issue of tax values near the wind energy projects and defended property owners who choose to participate.
"Landowners have the right to make money how they deem fit," Sewell said. "It's not our place to determine whether they can put a wind turbine on their property."
Following a public hearing on the abandonment of a "paper" alleyway in Jermyn during which there was no public present to address it, the item was tabled at the request of Precinct 4 Sonny Pruitt pending further discussion with the requestors.
In other business, commissioners approved a resolution requesting action by the State Legislature to correct the issue of the under-valuation of oil and gas properties; authorized use of the courthouse square for car shows; set the next meeting date for Friday, May 22, in light of the Memorial Day Holiday; and gave Judge Mitchell Davenport the authority to negotiate medical bills on county inmates.
The court tabled an application for surplus materials through the Texas Department of Transportation's County Assistance Program pending further review of available inventory.
Precinct 1 Commissioner James Logan explained the program is a reimbursement for the wear and tear on county roads, and there is more than $36,000 available to spend.
During public comment, Fearl Smith pointed out that wind energy is not renewable as otherwise stated, and Rod Heltzel reminded commissioners of their duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of constituents as well as not creating an undue burden on taxpayers by handing out "illegal" abatements.
Larry Guyton, who owns property in the Senate area, approached the court with concerns about the new project. He said he was representing seven of his neighbors who, because of the lack of notice of the Gamesa presentation, could not attend the meeting.
"We're all against this wind project," Guyton said.
Among his concerns were the fact that wind is not predictable, the projects are subsidized with taxpayer money, they are bad for tourism, noise levels, and that they do not create a significant amount of jobs.
He added that he is not pleased with the high-pressure tactics being used by Gamesa to force reluctant landowners into signing on with the project.