Wind Farms Get County Approval

You are here: Home

West Central Wind

The West Central Wind project will be located in Westport Township and northwestern Stearns County. Specifically in Pope County, there are plans for seven, 2.5 megawatt wind turbines, but potentially could expand to nine, 2 megawatt turbines. One of the wind towers will reportedly be built in Stearns County.

The project's investors are Jean Fiedler, Jean and Patricia Fiedler, Fiedler Properties, of Sauk Centre.

Minnewaska Wind Energy

The Minnewaska Wind Energy project will be located in Leven and Glenwood Townships. There are plans for eight, 2.5 megawatt wind turbines, but could expand to 10, 2 megawatt turbines.

The project's investors are: Harvey and Carla Wildman, Rose Boe, Robert and Marion McCrory, David Cooley, David and Karla Fiala, David John Mrnak, and Roger and Patricia Reents.

Westport Wind Energy

The Westport Wind Energy project will be located in Westport Township. There are plans for eight, 2.5 megawatt wind turbines, but could expand to 10, 2 megawatt turbines.

The project's investors are: James and Gloria Bailey, Ricky and Shari Weir, Timothy and Marion Ruegemer, Thomas and Janet Theis, Roman and Pat Malecha, and Todd and Louise Malecha.

The potential to expand from eight to 10 wind turbines depends on turbine availability. Regardless of the number of turbines, each farm is permitted for a total of 20 megawatts of energy production.

When will the wind towers pop up?

"It's a really long process," Wagner said. "It could be two to five years until you see something on the landscape."

The developers and investors are awaiting the "go-ahead" from the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) - which provides nondiscriminatory oversight of the operation of the bulk power transmission system.

Financial considerations

The towers, which cost approximately $3.5-4 million each, are taxed by the state; funds collected are prorated among the county (receives 80 percent), township (received 14 percent) and school district (receives 6 percent). The amount of revenue received depends on how much electricity is generated.

Wagner and Mike Reese, both Pope County residents, investors and project managers for the three wind farms, said they expect each wind farm to generate about $75,000 in taxes each year.

Wind turbine details

The new wind towers will be larger than the wind turbine in operation at the University of Minnesota Morris: Total height about 400 feet, and the blades will be about 270 feet long - about 140 feet larger than the blades in Morris.

The towers were sited to get the most elevation possible without tower interference while capturing the winter's northwest and summer's southeast winds.

When it comes to the amount of energy produced by the wind turbines, project managers said each 2.5 megawatt wind turbine will produce enough to power for 600-700 homes per year.

The power generated at the turbine site will be captured, then sent along a buried 69 kilovolt distribution line. The investors have 20-year power purchase agreements with Great River Energy. During last week's county board meeting, there was some talk about sending some of the wind generated energy to the City of Glenwood for local residents to benefit from the energy.

Noise from the whirling turbines is within the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's standards of 50 decibels - that's equivalent to two people outside someone's house at night having a quiet conversation. Most of the people living near the proposed wind tower sites are investors in the wind farms and are fully aware of the wind turbine sounds.

Long-time Pope County Commissioner Larry Kittelson said, "I'm just thrilled to see this finally before the board."

County Land and Resource Management Director Steve Lawrence said, "I certainly feel wind energy has a justified place in the world's energy portfolio right along side with solar, hydrogen and other 'green systems."

"My hope is that when these wind turbines are constructed, they will be providing electricity directly into local cooperatives and curbing the rising costs of our utility bill. These possibilities should be explored soon," Lawrence noted.

"We're really passionate about this particularly because it's a community model. I think it's very good for the community and local economy," Wagner said. "It's an opportunity for economic development and makes family farms sustainable - it's an opportunity for them to add to their operation. The resource is ours to use and keep the benefit of that resource in our local community."

Other business

In other business, the board:

• Authorized an agreement between Pope County and Glenwood Township to place aggregate base and bituminous surfacing on 270th Avenue and Mickelson Drive, located on the south side of Lake Minnewaska, off County Road 18.

• Set the letting date for 2009 Dust Control bids for April 6 at 1 p.m. at the county highway department office.

• Approved conditional use permits for West Central Wind Inc., Minnewaska Wind Energy, LLC, and Westport Wind Energy, LLC, conditional that all pertinent regulatory controls are satisfied to include, but not limited to those found under the Land Use Controls Ordinance Chapter 10.5.

• Rescheduled the Special Election Canvassing Board meeting date to Wednesday, March 11, at 9:30 a.m.

• Reviewed the January 2009 Trial Balance and Fund Balance Analysis.

• Approved payment of bills totaling $96,713.27 which includes payments of: $4,061.40 to the Association of Minnesota Counties for annual dues; $55 to City of Starbuck for Community Center rental; $2,200 to Forum Communications Printing for postage on valuation notice; $254.54 to Glenwood Equipment for a salt spreader; $625.63 to Kar Kraft Body Shop for squad repairs; $390 to MN D.A.R.E Officer's Association for two registration fees; $41.01 to A&W for prisoner meals; $18,899.80 to Douglas County Sheriff's Office for prisoner room and board; $21.80 to Jergenson's Bakery Shoppe for two dozen donuts; $9,758.04 to Cenex for highway department fuel; $500 to Douglas County Public Health for an investigation fee for a public health nuisance; $22,889.68 to Intereum for auditor/treasurer's office remodel furniture.

• Heard a request for highway department equipment purchases. The board requested more information.

• Accepted the three-year Teamsters Union Contract. Employees will receive cost of living allowance increases of 2.75 percent in 2009, 3 percent in 2010 and 2011; longevity rate increase; vacation bank and sick hours adjustments; and increase county contribution to family health insurance coverage.

Local Sponsors: