Friday, March 29, 2024

Kasson Chamber gets update on wind project

Mark Lennox, project director for Dodge County Wind, connected with the Kasson Chamber of Commerce last week for a video update on the project.

Dodge County Wind, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, is seeking Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approval to construct a wind farm in Dodge and Steele counties that will have the capacity of up to 260 megawatts of clean, renewable energy.

The project, Lennox reminded Chamber members, will consist of 79 turbines. Of those 19 will be under 500 ft. tall while 60 will be 559 ft. tall. Most of those turbines, he said, will be in western Dodge County, with some in Steele County. Transmission lines will go to a substation in Mower County. The electricity produced, he said, is contracted to Great River Energy. Steele Waseca Cooperative, which serves a portion of Dodge County as well as Steele and Mower counties, is a member of Great River Energy.

Over the past several months, he said, as a result of several public meetings and discussions with county commissioners, the company has made adjustments to their plans.

The original route for the transmission line was changed in response to community concerns. The turbines are also now being placed on roads with larger rights-of-way and on more private lands. There is also an attempt to go by as few homes as possible, Lennox said.

As he has at other local meetings, Lennox stressed that the project will be a benefit to the area.

Benefits of the project, include $750,000 to $1 million annual tax payments to Dodge County and more than $50 million in direct landowner payments over 30 years as well as $200 million in economic activity in the area during construction. Project spending, the company presentation said, is expected to support $1.2 million in annual labor income.

The project is currently under review by the PUC.

Another round of public meetings is anticipated for next spring and summer with permit approval late next year. Construction could begin in May 2024, he said, with the project completed and up and running by the end of 2024.

 

 

 

Dodge County Independent

Dodge County Independent
Dodge County ADvantage
301 S. Mantorville Ave.
Plaza 57 • Suite 200
Kasson, MN 55944

Dodge County Printing
301 S. Mantorville Ave.
Plaza 57 • Suite 200
Kasson, MN 55944

507-634-7503
 
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