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State Representative Tim Kelly
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8635
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS COLUMN
ADDRESSING THE LOCAL WIND FARM COMPLAINTS
Depending on which landowner you talk to, the proposed wind farms in Goodhue County have been extremely controversial, if not maddening. While some landowners see the development as a way to make more money, others see it as a corporation’s way to destroy our rural landscape.
While I support alternative energy, I do have some significant issues with current wind development laws, and have introduced two bills that address some of my concerns.
The first bill would maintain the integrity of the Community Based Energy Development (CBED) statute. CBED was designed to allow communities that had the capability of producing alternative energy to receive a financial benefit from it. The problem is this guideline has been hijacked by out-of-state corporations looking to make big profits, and currently there’s nothing in place to stop them from doing it.
One of the proposals would create a 78-megawatt wind development project in Goodhue County. It is being supported by billionaire T. Boone Pickens, who has no more connections to Red Wing or Cannon Falls than the man on the moon, but his investors are claiming CBED status.
Current law would allow this wind farm corporation to visit the power company and demand premium rates for the energy it will produce. In turn, Xcel Energy would have to accept it because it is a local alternative energy source, and it has to meet a statewide mandate that by the year 2025, 25 percent of Minnesota’s energy be produced by alternative energy sources. Later, these overinflated costs are passed down to the rate payers. In essence, the only real winners from this “community” based initiative are the out-of-town investors.
Under my proposal, if you are going to claim CBED status, your wind farm project cannot exceed 25 megawatts. My hope is that this will bring CBED a bit closer to the legislation’s original intent.
My second proposal would prohibit wind turbines from being built within a half mile of a homeowner's property line in an area where there are at least 3 1/2 homesteads per square mile. The current cookie cutter approach our state is using has many landowners upset that a wind farm is going to be established in their backyard. Our local governments have been asking for stronger clarifications, and this is a first attempt at trying to set some specific parameters. So if you are a non-participating landowner, you would see a half mile setback if my legislation becomes law.
My goal with this legislation is to begin a conversation. I’ve met with groups on both sides of this issue and they both have valid arguments. It is not my intent to shut a project down with the half mile requirement, but rather to have the half mile serve as a starting point and allow those who favor and oppose wind farms to have a voice at the table and determine what should be the proper setback.
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