Wind farms become popular, acceptable source of energy
Staff reporter
The wind farms are coming! The wind farms are coming!
In some parts of Kansas, wind farms ARE coming.
Westar Energy, Inc. recently announced that it had reached tentative agreement with developers to build three wind farms, totaling approximately 300 megawatts (MW). All are expected to be producing energy by the end of next year.
The plants will be located in Wichita County, Cloud County, and Barber County.
Westar officials said that the agreements represent more than a one-half billion dollar commitment to wind power in the state and will make Westar's wind energy program the largest in Kansas.
Westar also had indicated that it will seek an additional 200 MW to be available by year-end 2010.
What does that mean for Marion County?
Rural Florence resident Rex Savage has been researching and developing a wind farm plan for several years.
How is his progress?
"We're still working very hard and we're making progress," Savage said, "but it has not come to fruition yet."
He said wind energy development is a slow process.
"It can seem that you're very close and still be a long ways away," Savage said.
Savage has worked with Marion County Planning Commission to develop a feasible zoning plan that would be conducive for wind farms.
Overall, he's pleased with the outcome.
"I've spent several evenings at public meetings with the county planning and zoning commission discussing regulations for potential wind farms so both sides would know where we're at," Savage said.
Proposed wind farms
Central Plains Wind Farm will be a 99 MW project in Wichita County, between Leoti and Scott City. The developer of the project is RES America Developments, Inc. Westar will own the generation at this location, which is expected to begin producing electricity in late 2008.
Westar Energy will purchase under contract 96 MW from the Meridian Way Wind Farm in Cloud County, southeast of Concordia. Horizon Wind Energy, a company owned by Energias de Portugal, developed, owns, and will operate the 201 MW wind farm. The 96 MW that Westar Energy will purchase is scheduled to be available in late 2008.
The Flat Ridge Wind Farm is a proposed 100 MW wind-powered electric generating project to be located in Barber County, east of Medicine Lodge. BP Alternative Energy North America, Inc., is developing the project through its subsidiary, Flat Ridge Wind Energy, LLC. Construction is expected to start in 2008.
At completion, Westar will own 50 MW of power generation and will purchase the remaining 50 MW under a power purchase agreement.
Consumers will pay a price for these developments.
Westar Energy said in its filing that the addition of wind resources may lower long-term costs of energy but that in the short run, an average residential customer will see an increase of about $2 to $2.50 per month.
A megawatt is one million watts or 1,000 kilowatts of electricity. A megawatt typically can serve about 1,000 people.
The turbines being proposed will be approximately 262 to 300 feet tall with three blades that have a rotor diameter of up to 295 to 300 feet.
Local benefits
If a wind farm is developed in Marion County, how it will benefit the county?
First of all, the electricity may not directly benefit county residents. Typically the electricity generated by the wind turbines is distributed elsewhere in the country.
However, there will be other benefits.
Annual payments may be made to taxing entities such as the county and school districts where the turbines are located. The landowner where the turbines are erected also will receive annual payments for use of the land.
More than likely, the landowner will reinvest that money back into local economies which in turn will benefit all.
Savage knows that wind turbines are not always welcomed by all.
"Harvesting the wind does not degrade your neighbor's property," Savage said. "Does it change the skyline? Yes. So do power lines, fence lines, roads, cell phone towers, water towers, oil wells, and all the other things we take for granted that contribute to our quality of life.
"Wind turbines are one of the most environmentally innocuous ways overall to generate electricity."
In parts of Kansas where wind generation has been taking place for several years, communities have promoted the wind farms as a tourist attraction.
And there are those who prefer no cell phone towers or wind turbines on the plains.
"I grew up on the land," Savage said," and I want to leave it for the next generation to enjoy."
Local zoning
County zoning regulations that were adopted in 2004, allow development of WECS (Wind Energy Conversion Systems) in a specific area of the county.
The overlay district (see map) begins at U.S.-77 and 140th Road; goes west to Pawnee Road; south to U.S.-50 and 70th Road; goes two mile east to Remington Road; then two miles south to 50th Road; then east to U.S.-77; and then north to U.S.-77 and 140th Road. It includes all of the described area except sections one and 12, township 21, range four; and section 18, township 21, range five.
