Rugby pleased to see wind farm go forward
By JILL SCHRAMM, Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynewsRUGBY - After three years of waiting, the Rugby community is looking forward to construction of a 149-megawatt wind farm.
The North Dakota Public Service Commission approved the re-siting of turbines east of Rugby for Iberdrola Renewables, formerly PPM Energy, Wednesday in Bismarck.
The company expects to begin road construction and site preparation by Oct. 1. The erection of 71 wind turbines would occur next year.
Brenda Dissette, executive director of the Rugby Job Development Authority, said the construction start-up is good news for the area.
"It's good for rural communities like Rugby," she said. "I think Rugby and the area will more than likely see a a pretty reasonable economic development."
The project could create around 10 full-time jobs once operating, Dissette said.
The construction phase is expected to generate business for the restaurant and lodging industries and also could create work for local contractors, she said.
Royalties paid to landowners for easements for the turbines also will add to the local economy.
Rugby expects a boost to its sales tax collections and property-related tax collections for the county, schools and townships. The money will help fund local services such as fire and ambulance, Dissette said.
The PSC had approved a proposal from PPM in October 2005 to install 100 1.5-megawatt turbines east of Rugby. The revised plan calls for 71 2.1 megawatt turbines spread over more than 46,000 acres. With the reduction in turbine numbers, the company made minor changes to siting, requiring the new PSC approval Wednesday.
"This is a significant step for this wind farm near Rugby," Commissioner Susan Wefald said. "People whose land this wind farm is on have been looking forward to this project."
Commissioner Tony Clark added that it also is significant that Iberdrola plans to move forward with the project regardless of the status of any agreement for purchase of the power. The lack of a purchase contract had been holding up the project, but it appears the company is willing to commit to building even if it means selling the power on the open market rather than through a contract, he said.
Iberdrola has put out a notice of the availability of wind-generated electrical power from the Rugby wind farm with the intention of contracting the power by the time the turbines go into operation.
