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An informal group of concerned citizens is seeking another hearing on Basin Electric Power Cooperative's wind farm repowering project that was approved by the Ward County Commission on July 7.
Basin Electric plans to repower the 80 turbines that are part of the PrairieWinds 1 and Minot Wind projects south of Minot. Repowering includes installing new larger blades, a new hub gearbox, main shaft, a generator refurbishment and upgrades to the electrical controls, according to Basin Electric information.
Brian Lee of Sawyer informed the county commission Tuesday, July 21, of a request for a new hearing under a section of state law related to county zoning that provides for aggrieved citizens to petition for a separate hearing. The issue creating the grievance relates to landowners who acquire land with wind turbines, established by easements signed by previous landowners.
Lee said the preference is for the county to determine the right of the existing landowner to not continue an easement rather than have the decision made at the state Public Service Commission level.
"We are trying to get the county to protect these individuals," he said.
Lee also said Basin Electric should have informed the commission that it planned to build a major transmission line in the area of the wind farm at the time it was requesting to repower. The county needed the full picture to make its decision, he said.
Basin Electric confirmed it is developing plans for a transmission project south of Minot. The cooperative stated that while work is still in the early stages, it anticipates holding open houses in the near future to provide information about the project, answer questions and gather feedback from the landowners and community.