Climate zombies
and the Copenhagen blues
RALPH SUREnE
Claudia Roth, leader of the German Green Party, and Jakob Norhoj of the
Danish Socialist People's Party, put a lifebuoy around planet Eartt. outside
the parliament buildings Friday in Copenhagen, where the largest UN
climate change conference is underway. (PETER DEJONG / AP)
T
HE Bush/Cheney un-
dead are still stalking
the land, and on the
global warming issue
they've sunk their fangs into
fresh blood.
Continuing from the Bush
government's suppression of
the work of its own climate
scientists, propaganda and
befuddlement go from strength
to strength.
Driven by U.S. right-wing
politics and polluting-industry
money, they've unnerved scien-
tists with their tactics to the
point that some of them have
apparently suppressed data -
or thought of doing so - rather
than feed it into this engine of
political disinformation, in the
now famous University of East
Anglia emails episode.
Three points to bring the
picture into focus.
First, global warming'is just
one of several brick walls to-
wards which we're hurtling at
breakneck speed, thanks to our
ferocious destruction of the
living Earth.
Second, if you have your eyes
open, you don't need scientists
to tell you things are warming
uI>. perilously, nor to finger the
culpri erprints are
all over the crime: us.
And third, this clatter is ob-
scuring the legitimate skeptics
who are questioning the useful-
ness of the Kyoto/Copenhagen
process, in which political pro-
jections of greenhouse gas re-
ductions, with only vague ideas
on how to attain them, are
counted as progress. (Mean-
while, the gases continue to
rise.)
As for what's ahead along
with climate change, there's the
alarming acidification of the
oceans and the galloping extinc-
tion of species.
Beyond that, there's this. For
some time, I've been noting the
projections made by various UN
agencies, think tanks, U.S. gov-
ernment departments and oth-
ers, who paint the following
picture.
In a few decades, we'll have
two billion more people, plus
the emerging nations will be
demanding our lifestyle. We'll
need 50 per cent more food
(even as ar land declines
already in Africa because of
changing climate, and famine
hovers); we'll need 50 per cent
more energy (with oil consump-
tion up to 126 million barrels a
day by 2030 from some 84 mil-
lion now); there'll be half again
as many planes flying, ocean
freighters sailing, and automo-
biles rolling, and more.
If you can rub two sticks to-
gether, you can probably figure
out what's wrong with this
picture. In order to get to that
point, we'll have to cripple the
world as a functioning ecology
even more.
Whether we can brake in time
is the issue, but with the denial
industry trying to cut the brake
lines and a gaggle of conflicting
nations (including some active
troublemakers, like Canada) at
the steering wheel, can we?
As for denial, just think of
what's going on here in the
southern Maritimes. The first
frost is a month later than it
used to be (a crisp frost when
the leaves are turning is now a
thing of the past - this year, my
delicate plants only froze on
Oct. 21), and the last one in
spring is often two months
earlier than the traditional
"first full moon in June."
Where I live in Yarmouth
County, the lakes and tidal in-
lets - which up to the early
1970s, still froze two weeks be-
fore Christmas - glaze over
only fitfully now, even in Febru-
ary, if at all.
The problem is that, in the
main, it's only a handful of
older and mostly country people
who see the obvious, or care to
see it. For anyone under 30, this
is normal. For most city people,
and in fact many country peo-
ple, summer in November or
February is merely wonderful
- something to be desired, and
we can put the implications out
of mind.
The public's ignorance, which
the denial business feeds on, is
considerable. Or as one hectic
person asked me recently: "I
don't follow the news - is glob-
al warming still on?"
As for questions around the
process as it unfolds, there's
this. Premier Darrell Dexter
and a Nova Scotian delegation
are off to Copenhagen, appar-
ently to get recognition for
being first to cap emissions on
electricity providers. Let's keep
in mind that the cap has merely
been announced, not achieved,
with Nova Scotia hustling to get
wind and biomass power in
place to conform.
We may end up getting an
award for wishful thinking.
The capacity of big wind
farms to replace coal-fired gen-
eration is very much in doubt,
just as a misguided ethanol
program worldwide does little
to replace gasoline and creates
even more ecological harm, and
as cap-and-trade systems are
ready to come on that look like
an open door to financial scam
artists.
Nova Scotia could well be a
poster boy for the inadequacies
of the Copenhagen process, as
we, like the rest ofte world,
continue to fail to measure up
to the true need: conservation,
carbon taxes, and wind, solar,
fuel cell and other technologies
used to decentralize power
grids, not to feed their endless
growth.
Ralph Surette is a veteran freelance
journalist living in Yarmouth County.
(rsuretfe@herald.ca)
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Global Day of Climate Action
From Live Earth
Take Action for the Climate This Weekend! With nearly 200 countries discussing the future of the planet at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this week and next, NOW is the time to show your support with thousands of others.
This weekend people around the world are taking action on climate change. The folks at 350.org, Avaaz, and tcktcktck are holding candlelight vigils, creating signing walls and ringing church bells. Find your local action here, and be part of the global movement to solve climate change: http://www.350.org/map. If there's no action near you, it's not too late to sign up and host one!
This global weekend of action unfolds during the very middle of the Copenhagen climate negotiations, and 350.org will use your images, videos, and stories to show world leaders that people around the world from all backgrounds are ready for a real climate deal. The impacts of climate change are mounting every day, but we still have time to put ourselves on the path to a better world. We need to build the world's largest mandate for action. Are you ready?
The World Wants a Real Deal
The World Wants a Real Deal is a mass mobilization with over 2,500 events taking place in more than 125 countries. At candlelight vigils, marches and special events at temporary walls built in key capitals, people from all walks of life will write messages, post photos and sign their names onto the call for a Fair, Ambitious and Binding climate treaty.
The TckTckTck petition has been signed by more than 11 million people from every country in the world -- sign on to the petition here and show the world you're serious about taking action: http://tcktcktck.org/people/i-am-ready.
Video from COP15 in Copenhagen
Visit Live Earth Video to watch dozens of videos from the actions and events surrounding the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Check out the Seal the Deal playlist or submit your own videos!
Take Action for the Climate This Weekend! With nearly 200 countries discussing the future of the planet at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this week and next, NOW is the time to show your support with thousands of others.
This weekend people around the world are taking action on climate change. The folks at 350.org, Avaaz, and tcktcktck are holding candlelight vigils, creating signing walls and ringing church bells. Find your local action here, and be part of the global movement to solve climate change: http://www.350.org/map. If there's no action near you, it's not too late to sign up and host one!
This global weekend of action unfolds during the very middle of the Copenhagen climate negotiations, and 350.org will use your images, videos, and stories to show world leaders that people around the world from all backgrounds are ready for a real climate deal. The impacts of climate change are mounting every day, but we still have time to put ourselves on the path to a better world. We need to build the world's largest mandate for action. Are you ready?
The World Wants a Real Deal
The World Wants a Real Deal is a mass mobilization with over 2,500 events taking place in more than 125 countries. At candlelight vigils, marches and special events at temporary walls built in key capitals, people from all walks of life will write messages, post photos and sign their names onto the call for a Fair, Ambitious and Binding climate treaty.
The TckTckTck petition has been signed by more than 11 million people from every country in the world -- sign on to the petition here and show the world you're serious about taking action: http://tcktcktck.org/people/i-am-ready.
Video from COP15 in Copenhagen
Visit Live Earth Video to watch dozens of videos from the actions and events surrounding the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Check out the Seal the Deal playlist or submit your own videos!
Forum on Renewable Energy in Digby Nova Scotia
Public Discussion Forum
on
Renewable Energy
with
Liberal Environment and Energy Critic
Andrew Younger, MLA
11 am Tuesday, December 22nd
Digby Municipal Building
This will be an open forum for the public to discuss with Andrew the pros and cons of various forms of renewable energy (such as wind, tidal and biomass). Andrew is interested in listening to your ideas on costs and benefits, and possible policy options for Nova Scotia.
It will be an opportunity for the public to learn from Andrew’s extensive experience and knowledge on this subject as a former municipal councillor in HRM, chair of that municipality’s Energy Committee, and now as Liberal Critic for the Departments of Energy and Environment.
Andrew is looking forward to hearing your ideas and concerns around the development of renewable energy in Nova Scotia.
on
Renewable Energy
with
Liberal Environment and Energy Critic
Andrew Younger, MLA
11 am Tuesday, December 22nd
Digby Municipal Building
This will be an open forum for the public to discuss with Andrew the pros and cons of various forms of renewable energy (such as wind, tidal and biomass). Andrew is interested in listening to your ideas on costs and benefits, and possible policy options for Nova Scotia.
It will be an opportunity for the public to learn from Andrew’s extensive experience and knowledge on this subject as a former municipal councillor in HRM, chair of that municipality’s Energy Committee, and now as Liberal Critic for the Departments of Energy and Environment.
Andrew is looking forward to hearing your ideas and concerns around the development of renewable energy in Nova Scotia.
Quebec Hydro Reserves vs Wind, Tidal Power
From the CBC
N.B. wins in Hydro-Québec deal: economist
Last Updated: Friday, December 11, 2009 | 9:05 AM AT
CBC News
New Brunswick residents and businesses will likely emerge as winners in the proposed NB Power takeover deal, according to a Quebec economist.
Jean-Thomas Bernard, an economist at Laval University, has studied Hydro-Québec for years and he said the deal is good for the Quebec power corporation right now because it needs new customers to deal with all its excess power.
Bernard said Hydro-Québec may lose out in the long run and many of the utility's other customers would appreciate a similar deal that NB Power clients will be getting under the proposed arrangement.
"We are in a surplus situation now and having this additional market is most probably good at this time," Bernard said.
However, Bernard said in the long-term Hydro-Québec may regret this deal because the corporation may wind up selling its power to New Brunswick at a much cheaper rate than to its other customers in the United States or in Ontario.
"You must recall that you are paying 50 per cent more [for electricity] than in Quebec. And, Ontario is paying 70 per cent more than in Quebec," the economist said.
Under the proposed takeover agreement, Hydro-Québec would pay $4.8 billion to purchase the majority of NB Power's assets, that move would immediately erase the New Brunswick utility's debt.
Hydro-Québec would then freeze New Brunswick's residential power rates for five years and immediately cut large industrial power rates to the same level as in Quebec. After five years, Hydro-Québec can only raise rates to match inflation or cover new transmission or generation expenses that would have to be approved by the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board.
The provincial government estimates those rate savings are worth an additional $5 billion.
Cheap power
Bernard said New Brunswick is gaining access to one of the cheapest sources of power in North America, which is important considering the province has no natural advantages it can exploit for cheap power.
The Quebec economist dismissed wind and tidal power options as being unreliable and expensive compared to Quebec's hydro reserves.
The New Brunswick government has been hit by considerable opposition to the power pact since the memorandum of understanding was unveiled in late October. The New Brunswick Liberals slipped to second place behind the Progressive Conservatives in the last two public opinion polls.
The potential sale has also generated a lot of anxiety among the premiers of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Darrell Dexter and Danny Williams have demanded that New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham guarantee to them in writing that their provinces would still have equal access to New Brunswick's transmission grid so they can send their power to other markets.
Under the agreement, New Brunswick's independent system operator — the agency that monitors the province's transmission system and oversees auctions for the use of any new transmission capacity — would be rolled into NB Power and controlled by Hydro-Québec.
Graham has said in his own letter to his Nova Scotia and Newfoundland counterparts that the deal will not hurt their access to the province's transmission system.
Bernard said he doubts Hydro-Québec can block Newfoundland and Nova Scotia from using the grid. Bernard said Hydro-Québec cannot afford to antagonize its U.S. clients by throwing up barriers in Canada.
"We export a fair amount of electricity to the U.S. market and I'm sure Hydro-Québec doesn't want to jeopardize that through an awkward move through New Brunswick," he said.
N.B. wins in Hydro-Québec deal: economist
Last Updated: Friday, December 11, 2009 | 9:05 AM AT
CBC News
New Brunswick residents and businesses will likely emerge as winners in the proposed NB Power takeover deal, according to a Quebec economist.
Jean-Thomas Bernard, an economist at Laval University, has studied Hydro-Québec for years and he said the deal is good for the Quebec power corporation right now because it needs new customers to deal with all its excess power.
Bernard said Hydro-Québec may lose out in the long run and many of the utility's other customers would appreciate a similar deal that NB Power clients will be getting under the proposed arrangement.
"We are in a surplus situation now and having this additional market is most probably good at this time," Bernard said.
However, Bernard said in the long-term Hydro-Québec may regret this deal because the corporation may wind up selling its power to New Brunswick at a much cheaper rate than to its other customers in the United States or in Ontario.
"You must recall that you are paying 50 per cent more [for electricity] than in Quebec. And, Ontario is paying 70 per cent more than in Quebec," the economist said.
Under the proposed takeover agreement, Hydro-Québec would pay $4.8 billion to purchase the majority of NB Power's assets, that move would immediately erase the New Brunswick utility's debt.
Hydro-Québec would then freeze New Brunswick's residential power rates for five years and immediately cut large industrial power rates to the same level as in Quebec. After five years, Hydro-Québec can only raise rates to match inflation or cover new transmission or generation expenses that would have to be approved by the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board.
The provincial government estimates those rate savings are worth an additional $5 billion.
Cheap power
Bernard said New Brunswick is gaining access to one of the cheapest sources of power in North America, which is important considering the province has no natural advantages it can exploit for cheap power.
The Quebec economist dismissed wind and tidal power options as being unreliable and expensive compared to Quebec's hydro reserves.
The New Brunswick government has been hit by considerable opposition to the power pact since the memorandum of understanding was unveiled in late October. The New Brunswick Liberals slipped to second place behind the Progressive Conservatives in the last two public opinion polls.
The potential sale has also generated a lot of anxiety among the premiers of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Darrell Dexter and Danny Williams have demanded that New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham guarantee to them in writing that their provinces would still have equal access to New Brunswick's transmission grid so they can send their power to other markets.
Under the agreement, New Brunswick's independent system operator — the agency that monitors the province's transmission system and oversees auctions for the use of any new transmission capacity — would be rolled into NB Power and controlled by Hydro-Québec.
Graham has said in his own letter to his Nova Scotia and Newfoundland counterparts that the deal will not hurt their access to the province's transmission system.
Bernard said he doubts Hydro-Québec can block Newfoundland and Nova Scotia from using the grid. Bernard said Hydro-Québec cannot afford to antagonize its U.S. clients by throwing up barriers in Canada.
"We export a fair amount of electricity to the U.S. market and I'm sure Hydro-Québec doesn't want to jeopardize that through an awkward move through New Brunswick," he said.
Fighting for Health Care
To people from other countries: thank you for sharing in our news on this topic. Health care is an issue in many countries and worth fighting for. Good luck in your own countries in doing what you can to maintain what level of care you have and even increase it, especially in rural areas.
From saveournurse.wordpress.com :
Junior Theriault on Karen’s departureDigby, NS) The MLA for Digby-Annapolis says Maureen MacDonald has failed her first test as Minister of Health and has failed the people of Digby Neck.
Harold “Junior” Theriault says MacDonald has a responsibility to the 1500 people who depend on the services of the Islands Health Centre. Since the South West Nova District Health Authority dismissed the permanent nurse practitioner, residents have had sporadic health care services in the community.
“The people of Digby Neck want to know why the Minister of Health continues to back the District Health Authority, when it has lost the confidence of the people it is supposed to serve,” said Theriault. “The unfair treatment of a dedicated health care professional has created a lack of trust among residents. They need answers.”
The Minister has repeatedly refused to deal directly with the dismissal of Karen Snider, the nurse practitioner, while publicly backing the District Health Authority.
“The Minister is using every possible opportunity to insulate herself from the concerns and desires of the people who use that clinic,” said Theriault. “She is failing to take responsibility for the delivery of healthcare to the people of Digby Neck. She is letting them down.”
From saveournurse.wordpress.com :
Junior Theriault on Karen’s departureDigby, NS) The MLA for Digby-Annapolis says Maureen MacDonald has failed her first test as Minister of Health and has failed the people of Digby Neck.
Harold “Junior” Theriault says MacDonald has a responsibility to the 1500 people who depend on the services of the Islands Health Centre. Since the South West Nova District Health Authority dismissed the permanent nurse practitioner, residents have had sporadic health care services in the community.
“The people of Digby Neck want to know why the Minister of Health continues to back the District Health Authority, when it has lost the confidence of the people it is supposed to serve,” said Theriault. “The unfair treatment of a dedicated health care professional has created a lack of trust among residents. They need answers.”
The Minister has repeatedly refused to deal directly with the dismissal of Karen Snider, the nurse practitioner, while publicly backing the District Health Authority.
“The Minister is using every possible opportunity to insulate herself from the concerns and desires of the people who use that clinic,” said Theriault. “She is failing to take responsibility for the delivery of healthcare to the people of Digby Neck. She is letting them down.”
Labels:
health care
Nurse Practioner Moves
Nurse practitioner moves on
Community health board voices concern to health minister
by Leanne Delong/Digby Courier
Nurse practitioner moves on
Community health board voices concern to health minister
Nurse practitioner Karen Snider has accepted a job in Thompson, Man., even as another community group speaks up in hopes of getting her back to the Islands Health Clinic in Freeport.
Snider agreed to a short-term contract and will be out west for a couple of months.
“This is an incredibly sad day for us, who so much counted on her care,” said Andy Moir on his blog, saveournurse.wordpress.com. “We all wish Karen the best. Thompson, Man., should consider itself very lucky to get her.”
Municipality of Digby warden, who represents the area, said Snider’s move is not the end of dealing with the issue of the district health authority. “Whether it’s the end as far as Karen goes, I hope that’s not the case either. I knew something like this would happen but I feel that she still wants to be part of this community.”
Thurber said Snider still has her home here and wants to return to and may work contract jobs for two or three months until something is arranged to have her employed here again.
He hopes to eventually have Snider back where she belongs at the Islands Health Clinic.
“This is certainly a sad situation we find ourselves in, but we’re still optimistic it can be reversed,” Thurber added.
Digby and Area Community Health Board chair Donna Tidd has written Health Minister Maureen MacDonald and the District Health Authority asking for reinstatement of Snider to correct what was termed the negative impact on the community on the Neck and Islands.
Tidd said the letter was written to let residents know the board supports them and to alert the minister of health, “We’re not just simply going to sit back and believe everything we’re told.
“The feeling is the minister of health is responsible for district health authorities. It’s the same as the minister of education being responsible for school boards and I’m having a real problem with this minister of health continuingly saying that it’s up to the health authorities,” Tidd said.
She understands a lot of things have not been made public, which is fine but does not understand why Macdonald cannot step in.
When asked how she thought the community could make things right, Tidd said, “Everyone’s got to be on the same page, working together and right now the feeling is, their not.”
A group of community members are meeting today to figure out some options, said Thurber.
ldelong@digbycourier.ca
Community health board voices concern to health minister
by Leanne Delong/Digby Courier
Nurse practitioner moves on
Community health board voices concern to health minister
Nurse practitioner Karen Snider has accepted a job in Thompson, Man., even as another community group speaks up in hopes of getting her back to the Islands Health Clinic in Freeport.
Snider agreed to a short-term contract and will be out west for a couple of months.
“This is an incredibly sad day for us, who so much counted on her care,” said Andy Moir on his blog, saveournurse.wordpress.com. “We all wish Karen the best. Thompson, Man., should consider itself very lucky to get her.”
Municipality of Digby warden, who represents the area, said Snider’s move is not the end of dealing with the issue of the district health authority. “Whether it’s the end as far as Karen goes, I hope that’s not the case either. I knew something like this would happen but I feel that she still wants to be part of this community.”
Thurber said Snider still has her home here and wants to return to and may work contract jobs for two or three months until something is arranged to have her employed here again.
He hopes to eventually have Snider back where she belongs at the Islands Health Clinic.
“This is certainly a sad situation we find ourselves in, but we’re still optimistic it can be reversed,” Thurber added.
Digby and Area Community Health Board chair Donna Tidd has written Health Minister Maureen MacDonald and the District Health Authority asking for reinstatement of Snider to correct what was termed the negative impact on the community on the Neck and Islands.
Tidd said the letter was written to let residents know the board supports them and to alert the minister of health, “We’re not just simply going to sit back and believe everything we’re told.
“The feeling is the minister of health is responsible for district health authorities. It’s the same as the minister of education being responsible for school boards and I’m having a real problem with this minister of health continuingly saying that it’s up to the health authorities,” Tidd said.
She understands a lot of things have not been made public, which is fine but does not understand why Macdonald cannot step in.
When asked how she thought the community could make things right, Tidd said, “Everyone’s got to be on the same page, working together and right now the feeling is, their not.”
A group of community members are meeting today to figure out some options, said Thurber.
ldelong@digbycourier.ca
Labels:
nurse practioner
Friday, December 11, 2009
Turbine Locators Balk
ND regulators balk at wind tower locations
By DALE WETZEL Associated Press Writer , The Associated Press - BISMARCK, N.D.
North Dakota regulators, leery of a wind developer's request to locate six turbines less than a quarter-mile from rural homes, have scheduled a hearing for arguments about why they should grant it.
The state Public Service Commission in April approved a site plan for Just Wind LLC's project, which the company wants to build east of Napoleon, almost 80 miles southeast of Bismarck.
It includes 153 wind turbines capable of generating up to 368 megawatts of electricity and will cost between $800 million and $900 million to build, project operators say.
Earlier, the commission declined to approve locations for six of the turbines, saying the 290-foot steel towers were too close to homes. In recent wind farm site cases, the PSC has favored keeping turbines at least 1,400 feet, or just over one-quarter mile, from someone's dwelling.
Logan County, where the wind turbines will be located, has an ordinance requiring at least 750 feet of distance. Don Metzger, a Just Wind development director, said the turbines that the PSC questions would be placed between 850 and 1,200 feet from homes.
On Thursday, the commission agreed to hold a Jan. 26 hearing for additional arguments from Just Wind on why the turbine locations should be allowed. The commissioners split on whether to hold the hearing, with Commissioner Brian Kalk arguing that Just Wind had not presented enough new information to justify one.
"I'm not comfortable opening this up again. Fourteen hundred feet, I am very comfortable with that," Kalk said.
Tony Clark and Kevin Cramer, the commission's chairman, supported holding the hearing. Clark said landowner support for a nearby turbine may influence reconsideration of the tower's placement, but he said a property owner's backing would not be decisive.
"There's ... a point at which we simply wouldn't site a wind turbine, even if a landowner signs off on it," Clark said. "We just feel it's too close for the public's safety to site something in a particular area."
Metzger said one of the six turbines in question would be located near a long-abandoned farmstead. The other five would be placed on land near homes lived in by the property owners, who support the turbine placements, Metzger said.
Just Wind hopes to begin construction of the wind farm next spring. The company already has an agreement to sell 100 of its 368 megawatts to the Western Area Power Administration, and it is looking for additional customers, Metzger said.
Dirk Shulund, a WAPA project manager in Billings, Mont., confirmed the agreement. WAPA mostly sells hydropower that is generated by federal dams. It markets electricity in 15 states.
Regulators consider a number of health and safety factors when approving wind turbine placements, including the tower's possible collapse, broken windmill blades, turbine noise, ice accumulations on the blades that can break loose and be thrown, and "flicker," which describes light reflections from the blades and the shadows they can cast.
The wind towers themselves are almost 300 feet high, but state regulators say if they collapse, they are likely to crumple rather than topple straight over.
By DALE WETZEL Associated Press Writer , The Associated Press - BISMARCK, N.D.
North Dakota regulators, leery of a wind developer's request to locate six turbines less than a quarter-mile from rural homes, have scheduled a hearing for arguments about why they should grant it.
The state Public Service Commission in April approved a site plan for Just Wind LLC's project, which the company wants to build east of Napoleon, almost 80 miles southeast of Bismarck.
It includes 153 wind turbines capable of generating up to 368 megawatts of electricity and will cost between $800 million and $900 million to build, project operators say.
Earlier, the commission declined to approve locations for six of the turbines, saying the 290-foot steel towers were too close to homes. In recent wind farm site cases, the PSC has favored keeping turbines at least 1,400 feet, or just over one-quarter mile, from someone's dwelling.
Logan County, where the wind turbines will be located, has an ordinance requiring at least 750 feet of distance. Don Metzger, a Just Wind development director, said the turbines that the PSC questions would be placed between 850 and 1,200 feet from homes.
On Thursday, the commission agreed to hold a Jan. 26 hearing for additional arguments from Just Wind on why the turbine locations should be allowed. The commissioners split on whether to hold the hearing, with Commissioner Brian Kalk arguing that Just Wind had not presented enough new information to justify one.
"I'm not comfortable opening this up again. Fourteen hundred feet, I am very comfortable with that," Kalk said.
Tony Clark and Kevin Cramer, the commission's chairman, supported holding the hearing. Clark said landowner support for a nearby turbine may influence reconsideration of the tower's placement, but he said a property owner's backing would not be decisive.
"There's ... a point at which we simply wouldn't site a wind turbine, even if a landowner signs off on it," Clark said. "We just feel it's too close for the public's safety to site something in a particular area."
Metzger said one of the six turbines in question would be located near a long-abandoned farmstead. The other five would be placed on land near homes lived in by the property owners, who support the turbine placements, Metzger said.
Just Wind hopes to begin construction of the wind farm next spring. The company already has an agreement to sell 100 of its 368 megawatts to the Western Area Power Administration, and it is looking for additional customers, Metzger said.
Dirk Shulund, a WAPA project manager in Billings, Mont., confirmed the agreement. WAPA mostly sells hydropower that is generated by federal dams. It markets electricity in 15 states.
Regulators consider a number of health and safety factors when approving wind turbine placements, including the tower's possible collapse, broken windmill blades, turbine noise, ice accumulations on the blades that can break loose and be thrown, and "flicker," which describes light reflections from the blades and the shadows they can cast.
The wind towers themselves are almost 300 feet high, but state regulators say if they collapse, they are likely to crumple rather than topple straight over.
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