News
Category:
Minnesota
Looking to the future, Xcel betting on natural gas, hydro
October 26, 2012 by Dan Haugen in Midwest Energy News
October 26, 2012 by Dan Haugen in Midwest Energy News
As energy market forces continue to shift, Minnesota's largest utility now foresees meeting modestly growing electricity needs primarily with natural gas and hydropower imported from Canada. ...Environmentalists criticized the plan for not including enough renewables.
Also filed under [
General]
Contractor lays claim to ownership of wind farm near Blue Earth
October 26, 2012 by David Shaffer in Star Tribune
October 26, 2012 by David Shaffer in Star Tribune
Fagen alleged that the original developer of the project, Exergy Development Group of Idaho, didn't repay $11 million it borrowed from Fagen, causing the wind farm's ownership to transfer to Fagen under a February agreement. ...Exergy recently suspended development of a series of Idaho wind projects, blaming regulatory delays and other factors.
Fagen Inc. says it's entitled to ownership of the 18-turbine "Big Blue Project," near Blue Earth, Minn., on grounds that Exergy Development Group hasn't repaid an $11.4 million loan.
Granite Falls, Minn.-based Fagen says Exergy disputes ownership of the project.
"Minnesota legislators never intended for Minnesota electric consumers to pay above market rates to export electrical generation revenues to India or Texas," the three concluded. "We request a complete and comprehensive review of the (project's) C-BED designation."
Also filed under [
General]
Goodhue County shies from rescinding support of wind project
October 17, 2012 by John Weiss in The Post-Bulletin
October 17, 2012 by John Weiss in The Post-Bulletin
After a spirited debate centering around fears of lawsuits and who is in charge of a major Goodhue County wind project, the county board on Tuesday tabled a resolution that would have pulled its support for the 78-megawatt development.
Also filed under [
General]
Peter Mastic, who formerly headed a Minneapolis wind development firm that worked on the project, said in an interview Friday that he is the sole employee and owner of New Era Wind Farm.
Mastic said he intends to pursue the project with the help of a local advisory board .
Also filed under [
General]
AWA Goodhue wind project put under the microscope
October 11, 2012 by Brett Boese in The Post-Bulletin
October 11, 2012 by Brett Boese in The Post-Bulletin
The development once dubbed "the most troubled" wind project in state history by Minnesota Public Utilities Commission member Betsy Wergin is back under the microscope. ...Project critics have already filed two petitions asking the PUC to pull the 78-megawatt project's conditional site permit based on false or misleading statements that they feel represent permit violations.
Also filed under [
General]
Nancy Nolley, a spokeswoman for Dallas, Texas-based Mesa Power Group, said on Friday that a development agreement between National Wind and a Mesa subsidiary, American Wind Alliance, was terminated in August.
Also filed under [
General]
Goodhue County wind-project developer acquired by Indian company
September 20, 2012 by Brett Boese in The Post-Bulletin
September 20, 2012 by Brett Boese in The Post-Bulletin
National Wind, the longtime AWA Goodhue project developer, was acquired in December by Trishe Wind Energy, an international company based in India, but it appears the move was never officially communicated to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.
Also filed under [
General]
Dwight Anderson, an Allete executive leading the North Dakota project, testified before the commission that potential buyers last year had expressed interest in purchasing the wind farm's output, but no agreement was struck.
"Interest has waned as the growth and need for energy remained flat or declined in the overall Midwest region."
Also filed under [
North Dakota]
"We feel this is too close to all our properties," said Osakis resident Angela Jacobson, who acted as spokesperson for the group.
Douglas County is currently working on an alternative energy ordinance.
Also filed under [
General]
Bald Eagle Days has typically drawn a couple hundred people, but Ingram says it's unclear what effect the long hiatus and heightened local interest will have on those numbers.
Minnesota produces the fifth-most wind energy in the country, but it's also in the top three for nesting bald eagles in the lower 48 states.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Impact on Birds]
The sale price of DMI's property, plant and equipment was $20 million ...the market value for DMI's assets has been significantly impacted by reduced demand for wind towers due to adverse market conditions affecting the industry.
Also filed under [
General]
Lightning hit one of the blades of the turbine, sending part of it to the ground. The fire continued to burn, both at the base and at the top of the 175-foot-tall tower. Ultimately, all three blades were destroyed.
Also filed under [
Safety|
Structural Failure]
A citizen group that has fought plans to build a 50-turbine wind farm in Goodhue County has decided not to try appealing a Court of Appeals decision allowing the project to move forward.
Also filed under [
General]
Critics contend that the industry has been propped up by tax dollars for two decades and should now either stand or fall on its own merits. One projection says an extension would come with a bill of $4.1 billion over the next 10 years.
Regardless of the outcome, wind industry officials are predicting a rough year in 2013.
DNR, Fish & Wildlife critical of proposed Fillmore County wind project
July 28, 2012 by Brett Boese in The Post-Bulletin
July 28, 2012 by Brett Boese in The Post-Bulletin
Wildlife agencies have previously commented on the EcoHarmony project, but new methods have been developed that could pose roadblocks for the ambitious wind project.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources filed paperwork designating the proposed wind project a "high risk" site for bats and birds.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife]
Is much-delayed AWA Goodhue wind project in trouble?
July 27, 2012 by Brett Boese in The Post-Bulletin
July 27, 2012 by Brett Boese in The Post-Bulletin
With each passing day, the controversial AWA Goodhue wind project appears more and more unlikely to be in operation by the end of this year. That uncertainty puts the future of the $180 million project in question after it has already bitterly divided parts of rural Goodhue County and drawn national attention.
Also filed under [
General]
Wind turbines can sprout to 199 feet in Washington County townships
July 15, 2012 by Tim Harlow in Star Tribune
July 15, 2012 by Tim Harlow in Star Tribune
Over objections from one commissioner, the board voted 4-1 on Tuesday to approve changes to a 2002 ordinance that had restricted turbines and other wind energy devices to a maximum of 100 feet. The new ordinance regulating devices that convert wind to electricity, despite changes in height, prohibits wind farms.
Also filed under [
General]
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