11/09/2015Minnesota regulators have cancelled approvals for two wind projects, the 31.5MW Comfrey and 20MW Sibley proposals. The state Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to revoke site permits for the pair.
Comfrey Wind Energy received approval in 2008 for a 17-turbine development and has been granted two extensions. However it has been unable to secure an offtake agreement for the project in Brown and Cottonwood counties.
The proponent performed some construction before the end of 2014 to qualify for the federal production tax credit, which was in violation of the site permit, said regulators.
Comfrey requested an extension to December 2016 to obtain a power purchase agreement however it was denied.
Sibley Wind asked the commission to revoke its permit following issues related to birds and its power purchase agreement with the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency.
“We respectfully request that our permit for the Sibley wind project be cancelled while we work out a solution that will meet everyone’s requirements relating to avian studies on the project,” the proponent told regulators.
Sibley proposed to install Vestas turbines. The proponent would have to apply for a new site permit to go ahead with the project, which was initially approved in 2008.
Image: Nordex N117 turbine in the trees (Nordex)
Minnesota scraps wind permits
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