Minot Daily News SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020
Energy
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Wind energy produces more than 3,600 megawatts of electricity in North Dakota. North Dakota has 1,968 turbines, with additional projects under construction or permitted for future construction, according to the N.D. Public Service Commission.
ND wind energy continues growth By JILL SCHRAMM
Senior Staff Writer jschramm@minotdailynews.com Wind energy development hit a few bumps in North Dakota over the past year, but projects remain on the horizon or are moving forward. Three projects went into service in 2019, all in December. Those projects were in Dickey, Mercer, Morton, Emmons and Logan counties. Various projects remain in different stages of development in the Minot region.
Northern Divide Wind
NextEra Energy Resources, through its subsidiary, Burke Wind, proposed a 200megawatt wind farm and transmission line in Burke County. However, the North Dakota Public Service Commission rejected the wind farm last June after hearing concerns from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service about
dangers to migratory birds. NextEra now has a new project application for a 200-megawatt project with about 75 turbines, called Northern Divide Wind. “We worked pretty diligently with key stakeholders to design a new site and modify turbine layout for the wind project,” said NextEra spokesperson Conlan Kennedy. “The application represents our determination to build a project that the state can be proud of and that also Burke County can also be proud of. It’s a project that’s going to create homegrown, renewable energy, good jobs and millions of dollars in additional revenue for the local community there.” The project remains in Burke County but the layout has been modified. The location is in the northwest corner of the county, in the Columbus area, covering 10,912 acres. Kennedy said the company worked with stakeholders to address the issues affecting the first application. The Public Service Commission was to hold a public hearing in Bowbells on April 17. If the application is ap-
proved, construction could start this year, he said. Construction is expected to take six months, with the possibility of finishing yet this year. Approximately 200 to 300 construction jobs will be created. “We like to use local vendors. And on top of that, it also helps bring millions of dollars into the community,” Kennedy said. “It supports local businesses.” During the 30-year life expectancy of the proposed wind farm, it can be expected to generate about $30 million in property taxes, according to NextEra. Local school districts would receive more than $14 million over the life of the project. Burke County government would see collections increase by more than $10 million, and fire and ambulance districts would receive nearly $1.5 million in new funds. It would generate about $30 million in payments to participating landowners over the first 30 years. Kennedy noted the project provides diversification for local farmers. Guaranteed
Wind projects seek to clear hurdles payments from wind turbines can offset unpredictable harvests and commodity prices, he said. “It’s a way to save the farm and maybe be able to pass it on to the next generation,” said Lynn Watterud, a Columbus landowner. He also noted the local support for the project because of the tax benefits to township government and the local fire department. The Burke County Commission gave the project approval based on its planning and zoning rules. However, commissioners also acknowledge the economic benefits. “We feel like it will be a good opportunity for landowners in Burke County,” County Commission Chairman Jarret Van Berkom said. “It’s nice for those landowners to have another option to potentially have income off of their land.” NextEra has had 14 wind projects in operation in North Dakota, having invested $2.7 billion within the state since 2003. See WIND — Page 2
Real-time imagery of roads Drone project will assess McKenzie County gravel roads after rain By ELOISE OGDEN
mation ISight will provide to assist us in making road deRegional Editor eogden@minotdailynews.com cisions,” said Commission Chairman Tom McCabe. WATFORD CITY – A “Just one day of road closures project using drones to assess has economic impacts for the gravel roads following rain county. We’re looking forevents will begin in McKen- ward to working with ISight on this pilot project.” zie County this spring. In January, the McKenzie County Commission voted About ISight RPV unanimously to award ISight Headquartered in Grand RPV Services of Grand Forks Forks, ISight RPV Services funding to provide the drone provides remotely piloted veassessments that will give hicle (RPV) operations to commissioners real-time im- agricultural, critical infraagery of road conditions to structure, wildlife managesupport open/closure deci- ment, insurance, and sions on gravel roads. emergency services clients. “In western North Dakota Data is collected with the unclosing of gravel roads can manned aircraft. have major economic imKenville, has over 25 pacts not only for the county years in aviation-related exbut for the oil companies that perience, including 15 years work there,” said ISight CEO at the University of North Tommy Kenville in a news Dakota Aerospace Foundarelease. “Our project will col- tion and founding of the Unlect the data commissioners manned Applications need to make informed deci- Institute, the first institute for sions on road closures. We’re research, testing and consultthankful to the commission ing in the emerging unfor trusting ISight with such manned aerial vehicle an important project and industry in North Dakota, we’re excited to assist in founded in 2010, prior to keeping the economic pulse merging with ISight in 2016. of the county running when Pilots and operators who rain threatens to shut every- will be utilized in accomthing down.” plishing the work in McKen“McKenzie County is zie County have a wide range looking forward to the infor- of experience in unmanned
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From the left are Ryan Moriearty, ISight assistant chief pilot; Shane Roberts, co-developer, hybrid drone; and Adam Overvold, Isight chief pilot who was named this month the site manager for the Watford City office. They are part of the ISight RPV Services team involved in a project to use drones to assess gravel roads following rain events in McKenzie County. aerial systems and commercial aviation. The two-phase project in Watford City is to begin this spring with initial flights recording baseline data. When rain events occur this summer, ISight will conduct flights within visual line of sight to collect images of road conditions so commissioners can make decisions on road open/closures. Phase
menting it, the county can have a long-term history of the roads in question and to determine what, if any, remediation and repair has to be done following use,” said Kenville in his proposal to the McKenzie County Commission. “This will allow the Expected results county to have long-term “By capturing informa- data and information on tion in real time and docu- most gravel roads within the county to support efforts by
one will conclude in about November. Phase two will continue to collect data after rain events in the spring and summer of 2021, with plans to use beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) infrastructure, if available.
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McKenzie to change the formula by which Gross Production Taxes (GPT) are shared between the state of North Dakota and the counties in which the oil wells are located. This would allow McKenzie County the opportunity to improve the roads that they need.” Total cost of the project for See DRONES — Page 3