Advertisement in the Sisseton Courrier newspaper for a meeting this Thursday, April 5, 2007 at2:00 pm at St. Peter's Hall for purpose of "assisting landowners interested in developing their own wind farms...." www.cimarronlps.com I will attend this and report --anyone else that can make it would be helpful. This entity may be recognizing the same issues that we are dealng with. If I can make it work, I'll copy the advertisement and include.

WAPA recently sent a newsletter March 2007--regarding a 'Supplemental draft EIS (Environmental Impact Study ) " that will re-evaluate the proposed Big Sone II coal plant back-up water supply system and cooling system.. The main issue is the eventual interconnectiuon to the Federal transmisson system. Some mention is made in the newsletter about " the level of analysis provided in the /Draft EIS related to using wind power in place of or in conjunction with coal-fired generation." I wonder if WAPA has second thoughts about the coal plant vis a vis wind----do they need to know the wider concern of rural residents in NESD.. !-800-982-4523 Nancy Werdel.

Next (second) meeting of steering committee tentatively Sunday April 22. in Summit, SD

I'll forward several meeting advertisements re carbon and grids.

Dave Staub

0 Comments

Friends - The Minnesota Legislature is on the cusp of passing exciting new legislation that will substantially strengthen its effort to develop more community wind projects. If passed this legislation will:

* Lift the price cap on the MN Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) tariff.
* Encourage greater participation in community wind by cities, counties, electric coops, and municipal utilities.
* Establish a community energy green purchase program so that utility customers have the option of purchasing community energy, including wind energy.
* Prevent wind rights stockpiling by voiding wind easements and leases if no project is on-line within 5 years.
* Study the potential to insert 1,200 MW of dispersed community wind into the existing grid.
* Study the potential for the state to own transmission lines needed to develop renewable energy.

But, this bill’s passage is not assured. Due to legislative deadlines, it must pass out of the MN House of Representatives Energy Finance and Policy Committee by TOMORROW, March 21, 2007. Minnesotans who support community wind should call their state representative TODAY or TOMORROW MORNING and urge them to support House File 2253.

If you need to look up your representative’s contact info, go HERE

I encourage supporters of community wind in states other than Minnesota to review this legislation and let Windustry know if you have any questions or comments.

Also, if you have time tomorrow, please join us at the committee hearing at 2:15 tomorrow in Room 200, and again at 5:30 in Room 5, of the House Office Building next to the MN Capitol.

If you would like to testify, you may call the committee's administrative staff person and ask to speak in favor of the bill. The committee administrator is Andy Pomroy, and his phone number is 651-296-4180.

The committee chair also often allows members of the public who haven't signed up ahead of time to briefly communicate their views on a proposed bill.

To see the text of HF2253, click HERE

Thank you for your ongoing support for community wind. If you have any questions, please contact Windustry at 612-870-3461 or info@windustry.org. Lisa Daniels Executive Director Windustry

PS: Minnesotans should also call or email the authors of this legislation to thank them, particularly if they represent you.

The authors are: Rep. Aaron Peterson, Dist. 20A (651) 296-4228 Rep.aaron.peterson@house.mn
Rep. David Bly, Dist. 25B (651) 296-7065 Rep.david.bly@house.mn

0 Comments

Let me remind everyone about the coming Public TV program NEW ENERGY, this Thursday March 22, largely about wind and the renewables. South Dakota PBS at 8 pm and Appleton PBS at 7 pm.

I met with Marin Byrne at Windustry last Wednesday and indicated what the Steering Committee thought were the major issues in community wind in northeast South Dakota. We agreed that the 3rd week in June would be the best for a regional wind summit. They will pick the day of the week. Windustry will also send us their suggested topics to be covered in a 4-6 hour time frame. This would include an over-view of community wind, including summary of actual successful (and any unsuccessful) projects; the financial realities and opportunities; legal issues, including organizing landowners into groups that can work under a larger umbrella organization, that can speak for the interests of all in northeast counties of South Dakota; and finally, to have several technical engineers and lawyers who can answer the OBJECTIONS to wind development that we hear in the press and from the utilities and electrical coops.

While we await Windustry"s input for the program, we all need to develop questions that we and others want answered.

While I am getting my computer geared up to send e-mails and pass on info, Michael Michalak has developed a web site through his web site for information, etc. Eventually, things should be organized. I'll try to include several links that are important:

Windustry
Wind Power Monthly
Great Plains Institute
East River Coop
U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Basin Electric Power Coop
Western Area Power Administration
American Wind Energy Association
CapX 2020
Otter Tail Power Company

Recommended reading January 2007 multiple articles in PrairieBusiness free subscriptions can be obtained HERE

Finally, I guess that most everyone agreed at the first Wind Steering Committee meeting in Summit March 11 with the statement that there are no "secrets"--things are happening so fast in wind, that secrets will be "left behind in the dust." So this committee works for full transparency for the benefit of all.

Dave Staub

0 Comments