Wind could blow into court
Published on -7/28/2008, 8:51 AM
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By KALEY LYON
Monday's Ellis County Commission vote to grant a conditional-use permit application for a wind project southwest of Hays was a step forward for Iberdrola's 200-megawatt project.
Individuals on both sides of the issue, however, expect that final resolution of this debate could be issued in district court.
"I sincerely appreciate the vote of support this morning," said Krista Gordon, Hays Wind project manager. "From here, if an appeal is filed, we'll have to respond accordingly.
"I'm hopeful that we'll be able to continue without too many road blocks."
Not everyone, however, is pleased with the commissioners' decision.
Tim Davis, co-chairman of the Ellis County Environmental Awareness Coalition, a group opposed to the wind farm, said plans to file an appeal in district court have been under way.
"There's a lot of inconsistencies and errors in the application and in the process," Davis said. "Everybody expected to lose this round, with them pulling back the boundaries and etc., but this has been kind of the plan of action for a long time."
The first time around, a successful protest period stayed the process. Only one vote of opposition from county commissioner Perry Henman was enough to deny the permit.
The new application, however, pulled back the project boundaries so the 1,000-foot radius of eligible protest area was reduced, and no valid protest was submitted.
Thus, the conditional-use permit was granted Monday morning by a majority vote of the Ellis County commission.
Opponents now have a 30-day period to file a lawsuit and are planning to do so, Davis said.
Gordon said the project, which will consist of 100 turbines, each standing nearly 400 feet tall, will continue to progress.
Before construction can commence, however, the company has other housekeeping details to attend to, such as selling the potential 200-megawatts of energy production to an off-take company.
Provided there are no lawsuits filed, and things progress smoothly, Gordon said it would be possible for construction to commence in about a year.
A final engineering study and negotiation of a road agreement with Ellis County Public Works also will be on the to-do list.
The company also will need to go through the permit process with the city of Hays, as eight turbines tentatively have been located within the 3-mile radius under city jurisdiction, she said.
An application requesting such a permit has not yet been filed, and the Hays Area Planning Commission is working to establish zoning regulations pertaining to wind energy.
Plans for this wind farm location began in summer 2003. Iberdrola took over the project in May 2007. The permit process officially began in spring of 2007, with the Ellis County Joint Planning Commission hearing the original application in March.
A new application was filed last month, with the joint planning commission conducting a public hearing June 25.
That means the total permit process took almost a year and a half, which is unusual in the industry, Gordon said.
"It's very rare for a permit process to take this long," she said. "It's unusual."
I live in Iowa, which is currently the #1 state for windfarm construction. I agree, the turbines can produce some noise. The noise however is more along the lines of irritating,but it is clearly not harmful and does not pose a safety threat (setbacks are designed specifically for this reason). Unless specifically spelled out in the Easement, the power typically is transferred to larger metropolitan areas and does not benifit the immediate community in terms of electric power. What most fail to realize is the economic boom to the surrounding communities during the construction phase - food, lodging, retail, etc. In addition, there will be long term jobs for those who oversee the windfarms and turbines. Not to mention, this is a great opportunity for the landowners directly involved who receive rents. The end result is an alternative source of energy which is not only abundant, but free. Any way you look at it, you are going to pay for energy, so why not benefit from the infrastructure as much as you can. As a final note: I remember growing up in Ellis in the 1960s and early 1970s - Ellis was a booming town at the time. Today, it reminds me of a ghost town with little to offer but pride. Hays, at the same time, has remained somewhat stagnant, especially after the loss of Travenol and hundreds of jobs. Sounds like it's time to see the glass as "half full", not "half empty".
(Posted by: Brandon)
in response to open wallet: 7/30/2008
Seriously name one business that isn't about money and politics? Oil in Ellis county, money and politics, farming, money and politics, business owner, money and politics, commissioners, money and politics. See they're all connected!! No-one signed a death warrant, ignorance is the death warrant. People in Hays are so afraid to expand their horizons cause if it doesn't benefit them their not going to be a part of it. Talk about being selfish....
(Posted by: Whatever)
RE: Open-the Wallet: 7/30/2008
Let's see Australia, New Zealand just to name a few. A study by the Irish national grid stated that "Producing electricity from wind reduces the consumption of fossil fuels and therefore leads to emissions savings", and found reductions in CO2 emissions ranging from 0.33 to 0.59 tonnes of CO2 per MWh. The comment regarding a "death warrant" is just an indication regarding the overall ignorance the has plagued Hays / Ellis County on this subject. "Hundreds of vacant homes"? Come on...... Let's get the project up and running regardless of the ignorance and biases that are in place.
(Posted by: blind)
Henman is an idiot: 7/30/2008
Perry Henman is nothing more than a puppet for a select few who could care less what benefits Ellis County. I grew up in Ellis County and know there are good, hard-working people who live there. Idiots like Henman and his HENchMAN lack the common sense to see the benefits the wind farms WILL bring Ellis County. I applaud Dennis Pfannenstiel and Vernon Berens for their Leadership, Vision, and Common Sense to move forward on this project in the best interest of Ellis County.
(Posted by: 38)
: 7/29/2008
The environment has nothing to do with wind farms. If you can show me one country that has reduced their emissions using wind farms I'll change that opinion. Wind farms are all about money and politics. Afraid of being chastised by our green governor and a few local landowners you have two commissioners who signed a death warrant for the Ellis county economy by opening the entire county to quick buck investors. In 15 years you'll be looking at hundreds of useless towers, empty buildings and homes- if you're still here.
(Posted by: Open thy wallet-all the way.)
Wind: 7/29/2008
it just seems to me that we all live in a state and all gripe about the wind blowing all the time, so it makes good sense to put the wind to work for us. seems like a very simple solution. the wind farms along I70 are an awesoms sight to see.
(Posted by: Jk)
: 7/29/2008
for anyone to claim to be an "environmentalist" and oppose wind energy is complete hypocrisy. ellis county has an opportunity to be a model for other areas of the country by supporting wind energy. citizens of hays and ellis county need to take responsibility and control of our futures, and vote "yes" on wind energy.
(Posted by: a.l.)
Wind is free and non-pollutin: 7/29/2008
Who could possibly have a problem with wind power? Why should anyone be able to protest what is done on property they don't own?
(Posted by: all for green energy)
Environemnt AWARENESS ???: 7/29/2008
Agree with Bob. Let's see you can't build a coal plant 'cause the state wants wind. In Ellis County, you can't build wind. That and it's being fought by a environmental group????????
(Posted by: blind)
Since when has wind been perfect?: 7/29/2008
I'm not sure that the simple stance that the ECEAC has taken has been comprehended correctly by everyone. From my understanding, the ECEAC does not oppose wind power, but they are wise to consider that despite wind turbines generating clean energy, they are not God's gift to man. They have their drawbacks, faults and risks that go with any technology and the ECEAC is concerend about having the turbines placed too close to residents of the country, both willingly and unwillingly. You see, they welcome clean energy, but they do not turn a blind eye to its flaws, just to make a quick buck. They are looking out for their fellow citizen in the county and their rights; for those living now and those yet to be born.
(Posted by: A conscientious clean energy supporter)
TIm Davis: 7/29/2008
Tim, your a disgrace to the Hays name. You preach enviromental awareness, but yet I don't think you know what that means?? Its people like you that make a town like Hays look incompetent. Good for you, I am glad that you might get your 15 mins of fame. Shut your mouth and let the county move forward.
(Posted by: Shawn W.)
Wind Turbines: 7/29/2008
The prior comment said the wind turbine "project will benefit everyon in this county" It will only benefit the energy company and maybe the farmers hosting the turbines. They are loud and inefficient. I live in a wind farm in Wisconsin and it is terrible. Energy company officials misrepresent (lie) about the sound they emmit and the facts of generation. I have not talked to one person (I deliver mail in side this project) in this 86 turbine project that says they are excited and happy to be living 1000' from these monsters. Our health and safety has been effected since they began turning on March 3, 2008 in my neigborhood. This is so bad that you will have family members not speaking to each other. Those living near the turbines will be the innocent sufferers.
(Posted by: Lenny)
we need wind: 7/29/2008
Is the name “Ellis County Environmental Awareness Coalition” contradicting of their purpose. And did you notice that they had to go all the way to Wichita to find a lawyer? I certainly hope that they fail in court. This project will benefit everyone in this county, around the county, those living now and those yet to be born.
(Posted by: Bob S.)
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