The Winona County Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a pair of wind turbines in Mount Vernon Township. And although the permit was for property owner LeRoy Kronebusch, this project is largely the county's. The county was enabled during the last legislative session to form a limited liability company to partner with investors and construct wind turbines, one of the first in the state.
The Winona County Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a pair of wind turbines in Mount Vernon Township. And although the permit was for property owner LeRoy Kronebusch, this project is largely the county's. The county was enabled during the last legislative session to form a limited liability company to partner with investors and construct wind turbines, one of the first in the state.
The Winona County Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a pair of wind turbines in Mount Vernon Township.
And although the permit was for property owner LeRoy Kronebusch, this project is largely the county's. The county was enabled during the last legislative session to form a limited liability company to partner with investors and construct wind turbines, one of the first in the state.
The $3.6 million project is expected to include two turbines on Kronebusch property just off County Road 114. Although deals with investors yet to be found will dictate the exact finances of the project, estimates from the county show investors footing all but about $100,000 of the bill, with the county …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]The Winona County Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a pair of wind turbines in Mount Vernon Township.
And although the permit was for property owner LeRoy Kronebusch, this project is largely the county's. The county was enabled during the last legislative session to form a limited liability company to partner with investors and construct wind turbines, one of the first in the state.
The $3.6 million project is expected to include two turbines on Kronebusch property just off County Road 114. Although deals with investors yet to be found will dictate the exact finances of the project, estimates from the county show investors footing all but about $100,000 of the bill, with the county expected to be reimbursed for much of the initial investment. The private investors will own 99 percent of the development and profits for the first ten years. After the first ten years, the county will own 90 percent of the turbines.
Although the CUP at hand on Thursday had little to do with the county's role in the development, residents opposed to the project used the public hearing to criticize the county's move to invest taxpayer money in this way.
Ross Graden wondered how the county could justify the project with the little information it had on wind speeds for the site. The county has a $5,000 WindLogic study which uses historical data to show wind speeds. But actual site specific data from a meteorological tower never surfaced, after the county discovered its meteorological tower was broken for a year, measuring nothing.
With a projected $700,000 deficit for next year for the county, Graden wondered why county leaders would consider forming a corporation and investing taxpayer money now. "I find that to be pretty foolish," he said.
Graden also questioned the proposed ownership model, leaving Winona County to collect much of the projected profits after the turbines are ten years old. "It's a little like a used car situation," he said, adding that the turbines would likely need repairs and maintenance or other costs after they age.
Duane Jackels also questioned the project. He cited a wind farm in Cottonwood County where problems required the blades to be removed several times, motors and other parts needed to be removed and repaired, and the turbines were failing, despite being planted in a windier county. "I don't believe Winona County should be spending their money, my money, on that," he said. "If it's good for investors then let them benefit from that. I'm not against the site, but I am against you people spending my money."
Dan Juhl, of Juhl Wind, Inc., spoke on behalf of the project. His company is working with Winona County to help plan for the project, which he said will work. He said that his company's role was to help the county navigate the world of wind energy and avoid getting "raked over the coals" and to make sure the county didn't "get economically hurt by their want to do something for the community."
Juhl said that European countries with less wind have developed new technologies that make lower wind spots successful for turbines. "Low wind resource technology," he said, is more reliable and will work for Winona County.
Planning Commission member and County Board Chair Marcia Ward has long questioned the project, wondering whether the turbines will work and net a profit, and whether the county has enough science and evidence to prove it.
Dick Kreidemacher said during the public hearing that he felt the CUP should be approved, but that the larger issue of the county's role in the project should face public scrutiny. "I expect to have an open meeting, a say," he said. "I think if I want to make an investment as a private investor, then I should be the one to do that."
Ward promised that she would ask the rest of the County Board members to hold a public hearing on the project. Whether they would agree, she said, is another issue. A power purchase agreement with Xcel Energy must be signed by the board, expected in the coming weeks, one of the last approval points the development will need from county leaders.