County OKs list of issues over lines to planned wind farm

The Freeborn County commissioners on Tuesday accepted written comments gathered by the Planning and Zoning Department on a proposed transmission line to connect the planned Bent Tree Wind Farm to the Hayward electrical substation.

As recommended by Planning and Zoning Director Wayne Sorensen, the commissioners resolved to consider public concerns in an environmental assessment to be done by the Planning and Zoning Department.

Bent Tree is a wind power project belonging to Wisconsin Power & Light, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy. The proposal calls for a 400-megawatt wind farm built in two phases at a cost of $497 million. The plans call for 266 wind turbines in the Hartland-Manchester area.

Here is the list of factors to be researched, as worded in the resolution:

• Property values impact.

• Impact on the gas pipelines.

• Can the gas pipelines be used as a route?

• Impacts on bats and birds including bald eagles.

• Can it be buried?

• Effect of bad weather on the line.

• Electromagnetic fields.

• Effect on trees by the right of way.

• Size limit of 400 megawatts.

• Alternate routes: existing cross-country line; two other variations of alternative route.

• Effect on farm animals and crop yields.

• Can easement agreements be public?

• Effects on construction process including but not limited to dust, noise, traffic control, road impact and emergency services.

• Effects on aerial farming and irrigation.

• Installation safety procedures for residents and livestock.

• Lighting issues with new poles.

Commissioner Dan Belshan asked about how many routes are under consideration. Sorensen confirmed there are five routes being considered. Two mostly follow existing roadways. One follows an existing utility route owned by another company. Two were brought by citizens and mainly avoid residences by going through fields.

Sorensen said the next step for his department is preparing the environmental assessment. Though he said he and his staff are shooting for the May 4 meeting of the Freeborn County Planning Commission, it could be longer.

"Some items on the list will be very involved. Some are rather basic," he said.

The report also will be reviewed by an independent consultant.

Monday was the end of a weeklong scoping period to submit concerns. The written comments were in addition to spoken comments given April 6 at a Planning Commission hearing. The written comments were available to the public Tuesday at the Board of Commissioners meeting. There were 14.

Sorensen said he welcomes the feedback.

"It's constructive public participation that is always appreciated," he said.

Many comment makers said they belonged to a group called Safe Wind in Freeborn County, a public safety advocacy group spearheaded by Katie Troe of rural Clarks Grove.

She wrote concerns about health impacts, following proper procedures, costs of operation, impact on the landscape, habitat and environment, and the future reliability of the electric system.

Safe Wind member Connie Williams plotted the alternate routes for transmission lines. Her comments questioned the health impacts and supplied a Midwest Today article speculating on connections between illnesses and electromagnetic fields. She also had questions about loss of property values.