(Le Mars) — Could there someday be wind generator turbines located in Plymouth County? According to Alan Lucken, Plymouth County Zoning Administrator, a proposal from a Chicago-based energy company has been submitted to feature a 200 megawatt wind farm to be located in the eastern portion of Plymouth County.
Lucken says the company, Envengry, is in the process of obtaining easements from local landowners to construct the wind turbines. Following that, the wind farm company will then appear before the Plymouth County Board of Adjustment seeking permission to build the wind farm.
Lucken says according to company officials, nearly 30 percent of the easements have already been obtained. However, it may be late summer or even into the autumn months before the wind turbine company will appear before the County Board of Adjustment. Lucken says it can be fairly lucrative for a landowner to have a wind generator turbine located on their property.
Lukin says he has consulted with his counterparts from other counties that already have active wind farms to inquire about the pros and cons of having an established wind farm to be located within Plymouth County.
At current time, there is only one wind generator located within Plymouth County. The town of Akron has tried to utilize the wind for some of its power needs, but Lucken says that wind generator has had problems over the years.
The county zoning administrator says Plymouth County has already written zoning ordinances for any future wind generator turbines. He says the proposed wind generator turbines would stand approximately 500 feet tall with a wind blade radius of 150 to 175 feet.
(photo contributed.)
