Planning commission visits wind farm
Operators say, 'no negatives' to generators
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Six members of Marion County Planning Commission and Director David Brazil visited the Gray County wind farm near Montezuma May 7. Two local reporters accompanied them.
Their first stop was at the Gray County Energy Center in Montezuma, where they viewed a fascinating 15-minute slide show about the construction and operation of the wind farm.
The wind farm is comprised of 170 towers located in several half-mile long east-to-west strings (rows) throughout 20 square miles of cropland. There are 27 property owners benefiting from land leases for the project.
The farm is owned by Florida Power and Light Co. Electricity generated is sold to Aquila, an energy company which sells the power to electric companies in Kansas and Nebraska. The power produced is enough to supply 33,000 homes when the farm is operating at full capacity (39.8 percent of the time).
At first glance, driving along U.S.-56 east of Montezuma, the towers didn't appear large. But they were quite impressive when viewed from close-up at an information stop for visitors.
The three-bladed rotor in action atop each tower reminds one of a graceful ballet dancer. The turbine produces a humming sound. Each blade is 77 feet in length, and from the base of the tower to the tip of the blade is almost 300 feet. The base of the tower is 14 feet in diameter. The width gradually decreases toward the top.
The rotor is connected to a large rectangular box known as a nacelle. The blades drive a generator through a gearbox and convert the mechanical power to electrical power.
Electricity is carried down cables inside the tower to underground distribution lines, which carry the power to the main substation at nearby transmission lines. At several points along the way, electricity passes through transformers, increasing its voltage from 690 to 34,500.
Underground cables are buried four feet in the ground, allowing farmers to farm over them.
When the wind towers were being constructed, it took a semi-tractor/trailer to deliver six blades. The tubular steel towers came in three sections.
Debbie Waycamp of Gray County Energy Center said about 1,200 semi-truck loads of material were used throughout the construction process. The project included construction of 18 miles of service roads.
Each tower sits atop a concrete foundation which is a circular 14 feet in diameter and 28 feet deep. Special equipment similar to that used to construct underground missile silos was used to drill the holes and erect the towers.
Construction was relatively quick. Begun in May 2001, the first generators came on line the following August, and the project was completed in December of the same year.
The farm was under construction when the terrorist attacks occurred Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City and Washington, D.C. An American flag was placed on the turbine of the first tower completed after that date. It is in full view of travelers on U.S.-56.
No negatives
Waycamp said there was no local opposition to the wind farm from landowners except for a few country dwellers. Turbines are located at least 650 feet from residential areas to minimize noise and eliminate shadowing.
Waycamp said there were no negatives to the community but many positives. At least 150 local people were involved at peak times as subcontracted workers. Another nine to 10 people are employed to operate and maintain the farm.
During construction, local purchases increased. The wind farm increased the tax base. The amount of $305,000 is paid to the county each year in lieu of taxes. The 27 land owners receive land lease income. The 18 miles of new roads are maintained by the company.
Waycamp said one of the biggest positives is the fact that wind is a clean, renewable energy source. No emissions or solid waste by-products are produced.
The cost of wind energy has dropped significantly in the past 20 years, making it competitive with other energy sources, due largely to advances in technology and a federally-sponsored wind production tax credit.
When and if the turbines wear out in 20-30 years, Florida Power and Light already has set aside money to dismantle the towers and put the land back in its original condition.
It was interesting to note that Gray County officials or residents apparently did not seek the wind farm. Florida Power and Light came to them, seeing it as a good site for such a farm.
Waycamp and her brother had just closed down their Case IH dealership in Montezuma when they were approached about operating the farm. FPL bought the building, renovated it into a headquarters for Gray County Wind Energy, LLC, and hired the two individuals to manage it.
"I was in the right place at the right time," Waycamp said.
The project was approved by the planning commission and county commissioners of Gray County.
To be selected for a wind farm, a site must have immediate access to high voltage transmission lines that have the capacity available to carry more power, and it must have steady, brisk winds.
Marion County has one high voltage transmission line. It runs across the southern part of the county south of U.S.-50.
Kansas is rated third highest in the nation for wind energy potential. On a scale of one to five within the state, Marion County is rated a three in wind production.
The planning commission earlier placed a moratorium on wind farm applications in Marion County until June 2 to give members time to gather information and determine what requirements and regulations would be necessary for establishing such an enterprise.
Those commission members taking part in the trip were David Brazil, Eileen Sieger, Marquetta Eilerts, Glenn Unrau, Mary Avery, David Mueller, and Ervin Ediger. Willis Ensz and Bob Unruh were unable to make the trip.
Sieger is chairman of the planning commission and board of zoning appeals.
"After all I've heard and read, it was certainly helpful to have some questions answered and to see a wind farm in person," she said. "I only wish there had been time to talk to some of the residents of Gray County to hear their opinions."
David Brazil, planning and zoning director, said he was impressed to hear that 585,000 tons of carbon dioxide are not produced, compared to a fuel plant of equal production. He saw that farmers literally do farm right up to the wind towers. He also was impressed with how quickly a commercial wind farm can be erected and put in operation.
"We could process an application right now," he said.
He hopes that a policy statement related to utilities and wind farms will be incorporated in the new Marion County comprehensive plan.
Once that is completed, he said, zoning regulations will be updated to contain specifics on operations of that kind.
