News
Category:
Kansas
Cimarron II wind farm planned; turbine choice is up in air
July 6, 2011 by John Green in The Hutchinson News
July 6, 2011 by John Green in The Hutchinson News
"We have a longstanding contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority, since 2009. Because we've contracted with a federal authority, however, from an administrative standpoint it takes longer. The project has to go through a more rigorous and thorough environmental review."
Also filed under [
General]
Support for alternative energy subsidies thin among lawmakers
July 3, 2011 by The Wichita Eagle in Dan Voorhis
July 3, 2011 by The Wichita Eagle in Dan Voorhis
On wind, he said he opposes a measure called the Renewable Energy Standard that requires utilities all over the country to use a certain percentage of wind-generated electricity, although he has supported other wind tax credits.
Renewing the production tax credit for wind farms in 2012 will be difficult, he said.
It is my opinion that the proposed projects will have an adverse impact upon the overall ecosystem of the Tallgrass Prairie, a true national treasure. The last remnants of the Tallgrass Prairie run from Osage County northward, into northern Kansas and I believe that the Osage Nation must join others in its protection, restoration, and properly make use of the limited opportunities.
Midwest power transmission project targets Kansas wind
May 29, 2011 by Jeffrey Tomich in St Louis Post-Dispatch
May 29, 2011 by Jeffrey Tomich in St Louis Post-Dispatch
Developers there are lining up to build new wind farms, representing thousands of megawatts. Projects have been permitted and land has been leased, but work won't go forward without additional transmission ...the existing transmission grid lacked capacity to move Kansas wind power to eastern Missouri.
Brownback defends process to create wind farm-free zone
May 18, 2011 by The Associated Press in Wichita Eagle
May 18, 2011 by The Associated Press in Wichita Eagle
Gov. Sam Brownback is defending the process he used to make 11,000 square miles of the Flint Hills off-limits to wind farm expansion as part of his push to make the Kansas tallgrass prairie a premiere tourist destination.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
Moving a proposed utility line to protect endangered birds could cost millions
May 16, 2011 by Associated Press in LJ World
May 16, 2011 by Associated Press in LJ World
The Kansas Corporation Commission began hearing testimony on Monday from opponents and supporters of a proposal to move a wind energy power line from a route near Dodge City in order to protect the habitat of about 140 lesser prairie chickens.
Supporters of the change said the proposed route would disrupt the habitat where the birds breed.
Also filed under [
Transmission]
Expansion of protected area kills Cowley County wind project
May 15, 2011 by Rick Plumlee in The Wichita Eagle
May 15, 2011 by Rick Plumlee in The Wichita Eagle
Whether turbines should be in the Flint Hills - and it appears they mostly will not be - is part of the dialogue over how best to leverage the sprawling, environmentally sensitive tallgrass prairie that Brownback has called "an ecological jewel."
Also filed under [
General]
Brownback expands area to keep out commercial wind farms
May 6, 2011 by Scott Rothschild in LJ World
May 6, 2011 by Scott Rothschild in LJ World
Gov. Sam Brownback on Friday announced a plan that he said would protect the tallgrass prairie by preventing further development of commercial wind farms in the Flint Hills.
Also filed under [
Impact on Landscape|
Energy Policy]
All of them were later found to have damaged blade tips. Siemens alleges this occurred when they hit a rail overpass at Kansas Avenue and First Street in Kansas City, Kan.
Siemens is seeking $3.2 million.
A lawsuit filed by more than two dozen Ellis County landowners and a prospective wind developer against the Ellis County Commission was dismissed Wednesday.
Dismissal comes on the heels of zoning regulation changes passed 2-1 at Monday's commission meeting.
Also filed under [
General]
"It says do not stay within a radius of 1,300 feet from the turbine unless it is necessary," he said. "This is from a manufacturer of a wind turbine that is now operating across the world.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
The agenda for Monday's 6:45 p.m. meeting includes a recommendation from the Ellis County Joint Planning Commission that would change the required setback distance from 10-times-the-tip-height to 1,000 feet and eliminate regulations for noise levels.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Zoning/Planning]
The Ellis County Joint Planning Commission addressed wind energy regulation recommendations during Wednesday night's meeting.
It came about after the Ellis County Commission suggested the commission address specific changes proposed by Mark Bannister of Butterfield Wind during the planning commission's December meeting.
The three most-discussed areas of the suggested changes were wind turbine setbacks, notification and protest petition areas, and decibel levels.
Also filed under [
General]
Goal of many more ‘green' jobs is elusive
February 15, 2011 by Steve Everly in The Kansas City Star
February 15, 2011 by Steve Everly in The Kansas City Star
The state's big bet on wind power has attracted a few hundred jobs so far. But even that success shows the huge challenge Kansas faces. ..."We need to temper our expectations on wind energy," said David Swenson, an Iowa State University economist known for deflating the ethanol industry's job claims. Now, he says, the same "environment of hype" is developing around wind power.
Also filed under [
Impact on Economy]
Two firefighters from Lincoln County were injured while fighting the blaze. ...there was no damage reported to wind turbines at the Smoky Hill Wind Farm. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
Also filed under [
Safety]
A packed room gave the Ellis County Joint Planning Commission a resounding round of applause Tuesday night after the commission voted 5-2 to recommend changes to the wind energy zoning regulations to the Ellis County Commission. ...The zoning commission recommended changing the current 10 times the tip height of the wind turbine setback to 1,000 feet and a noise decibel regulation of 50 decibels.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
One of Ellis County's most talked about topics during the past few years will be in the spotlight once again on Tuesday night.
During the monthly Ellis County Joint Planning Commission meeting at 7 p.m., committee members will host a public hearing on changes to the county's wind energy zoning regulations that were proposed by Mark Bannister of Butterfield Wind during the committee's December meeting.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
Jarboe also said that Donica Creek has enough land now to move forward with construction, once studies come back. They are also waiting for agreements to work out with local utilities to carry the energy produced by the farms.
Also filed under [
General]
More than two dozen landowners and a prospective developer are suing the Ellis County Commission over zoning regulations they claim will essentially prevent wind farm development on their land.
Also filed under [
General]
The company has more than a quarter-million acres leased for potential development in a six-county region, including land in Barber, Harper, Kingman, Pratt and Kiowa counties "and a smidgen in Ford County," Pierce said. ...The future phases of Flat Ridge are being developed in 300 MW blocks, but they may be sold to different utilities in smaller amounts.
Also filed under [
General]
| << Indiana | Kentucky >> |