News
Category:
Kansas
Sen. Jay Emler, a Lindsborg Republican and chairman of the security panel, said he wanted the briefing to make legislators mindful of the potential conflicts as the state pushes for more wind development with existing military operations.
"There are consequences to all of our actions," Emler said.
Panel asks whether wind farms slow military
November 16, 2010 by The Associated Press in Air Force Times
November 16, 2010 by The Associated Press in Air Force Times
Some Kansas legislators are asking whether the development of wind farms could affect training at military bases.
The Legislature's Joint Committee on Kansas Security has placed the topic on its agenda for a meeting Nov. 22.
Fulfilling one of the final goals of former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, the Kansas Corporation Commission has approved regulations directing utilities to get 15 percent of their electric power from renewable sources by 2016 - and 20 percent by 2020.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
The turbine never worked properly ...Enertech responded by saying the arena had inadequate amperage service, so the arena spent $23,000 to upgrade the service.
In September 2010, the turbine malfunctioned and flung oil or something similar to it over the arena.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure]
Nature, energy interests clash in Flint Hills symposium at KU
November 6, 2010 by Christine Metz in Lawrence Journal-World
November 6, 2010 by Christine Metz in Lawrence Journal-World
The Flint Hills pose an environmental dilemma for many green-minded Kansans.
The region is a prime spot to harness wind energy while also being close to powerful transmission lines to carry that energy to the cities that need it. However, it is also holds some of the last remaining tallgrass prairie in the country and is home to dwindling bird populations.
Also filed under [
General]
Also filed under [
General]
Researchers investigate causes of population declines of Prairie Chickens in Kansas
October 28, 2010 in Kansas City Infozine
October 28, 2010 in Kansas City Infozine
The collaborative research effort was initiated by the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Wildlife Workgroup Grassland and Shrub Steppe Species Subgroup to establish whether there are effects from wind structures to prairie chickens in the Midwest.
Also filed under [
Impact on Birds]
The Hays Area Planning Commission unanimously agreed Monday evening that commercial-scale wind turbines should not be allowed within 3 miles of Hays city limits. That recommendation will pass to the Hays City Commission for final action.
Also filed under [
General]
Commissioners agreed Monday that Campbell was not an aggrieved party and therefore his appeal was not valid.
"I tend to agree that he is not an aggrieved person," Commission Chairman Perry Henman said. "He doesn't have any property in the project."
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
Keith Campbell, a member of the Ellis County Joint Planning Commission, filed the appeal earlier this month citing the exclusion of the county commission from the final decision process.
Also filed under [
General]
The city's zoning regulations prohibit wind turbines taller than 125 feet in the 3-mile radius surrounding Hays, and that is where the project would be located. The planning commission in 2009 opted to limit the height of turbines in this area to ensure future municipal growth, Fouts said.
Also filed under [
General]
That's because general plans for the 345-kilovolt route, known as the V-Plan and including a connecting line into Oklahoma, appear to take the line through prime nesting and breeding habitat for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken in both states.
With an estimated two-thirds of the unique bird's original habitat already eliminated by development, officials warn that further encroachment could place the bird on the nation's endangered species list.
Invenergy project manager Will Furgeson said while he continues to pursue a proposed project in northern Ellis County, the increased setbacks adopted Monday have caused concern about creating a viable project in the county. ...Along with increased setbacks, the amended regulations call for a standard for noise in wind projects not to exceed 40 decibels.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Zoning/Planning]
Members of the Ellis County Joint Planning Commission will determine Wednesday if changes in Hays Wind LLC's proposed project southwest of Hays constitute a minor change in the project's development plan.
Also filed under [
General]
County OKs permit for second Spearville wind farm
August 18, 2010 by Eric Swanson in Dodge City Daily Globe
August 18, 2010 by Eric Swanson in Dodge City Daily Globe
A proposal to build Spearville's second wind farm won approval from the Ford County Commission on Monday.
The commission signed off on a conditional use permit and development plan for the first phase of a wind farm on the Ironwood site. The site is located on the south and east sides of Spearville and extends up into Hodgeman County.
Also filed under [
General]
"I like that you're here with nature and not with cars, people and concrete," he said. "I need green space and open air." ...The land had been earmarked for a 100-turbine wind farm, but the agreement shields the property from encroachment of developers. The ground will remain in private hands, but be reserved for recreational activities and agriculture, primarily cattle grazing.
Also filed under [
Impact on Landscape]
Developer continues effort to bring wind farm to county
July 22, 2010 by Adam Stewart in Hillsboro Star-Journal
July 22, 2010 by Adam Stewart in Hillsboro Star-Journal
Prospects might sound pessimistic, Savage said, but he thinks the effort is worth it.
If all remaining steps are completed quickly, construction could begin in about a year, but it probably will take a couple of years before construction can begin.
Also filed under [
General]
With a decision by a Texas-based company to end its effort in signing up acreage for a potential wind farm in southeast Reno County, no other commercial wind projects are visible on the horizon for the county.
Not that the effort by Horizon Wind Energy was really visible, or that the decision makes the county any less viable as a candidate for development, local wind experts say.
Also filed under [
General]
Stocking is one of about 200 people on the e-mail list for the newly formed Southern Great Plains Property Rights Coalition, a group of landowners fighting for fair compensation as wind development changes the landscape.
Horizon Wind Energy has pulled the plug on its proposed wind farm north of Cheney Reservoir, saying it can't compete with likely future development. ...Several landowners in the area said most farmers in Horizon's target area felt their land had a higher value as 5-acre rural housing lots or even suburban housing lots.
Also filed under [
General]
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