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Gevo wind project to get hearing Monday

Subhead
Variance needed for turbines setback
Lead Summary
By
Mavis Fodness

Organizers of the first wind energy project under Rock County’s new renewable energy ordinance are asking for a variance because one setback requirement cannot be met.
The public hearing is at 7 p.m. Monday, July 1, at the Rock County Law Enforcement Center in Luverne.
Gevo Inc. proposes erecting two wind turbines about 2.5 miles west of its Luverne renewable energy production facility as part of its Rock County Wind Fuel project.
Juhl Energy Development is partnering with Gevo on the project.
Representatives spoke with county commissioners June 18 about the project and the reason they are requesting a variance from the county’s newest ordinance.
Both Gevo and Juhl Energy representatives worked with the Federal Aviation Administration and their setback requirements from the local airport located southeast of the plant.
Originally the turbines in the wind fuel project were to be built near the plant located southwest of Luverne.
An application to the FAA, however, revealed that the turbine heights might interfere with future expansions of the local airport.
Two suitable wind turbine sites were located just over two miles west of the Gevo plant. The sites meet FAA setback requirements and all local ordinance requirements except the setback distance from adjacent property lines.
“Site-wise we’ve been able to achieve good setbacks from dwellings so it has minimal impact, whether acoustics or shadow flickers,” Thibert said.
The setback from property lines preserves the “wind rights” of the adjacent property owners.
Setback distances ranged from 1,142 feet to 1,903 feet.
 “It (the setback) is typically geared toward larger wind farm and/or wind rights … so you’re not encroaching on the neighboring landowner and his ability to site a turbine on his property,” Thibert said. “In this scenario … it is unlikely that the neighbors are able to site turbines on their property to begin with.”
The two sites are located near county roads 4 and 11 in sections 17 and 19 in Luverne Township.
Interstate 90 is south of the proposed locations.
Respective property owners are Kirk Gabrielson of Winston, Georgia, and Greg Gabrielson of Luverne.
“Those two sites were selected because they are the closest we can get to the airport setbacks and closest to the Gevo facility with the greatest amount of space between the area homes,” said Mike Powers, also with Juhl Energy.
The transmission line from the turbines to the plant will be underground.
Commissioners also met Phil Cherry, who became the Luverne plant manager about a month ago.
“This project will allow the facility to be the first in the country — and possibly the world — to produce biofuels will an all renewable energy sources,” he said.
Gevo is partnering with Juhl Energy Development of Chanhassen for the design, permitting, procurement, construction and operation of the turbines.
According to the county renewable energy ordinance, all wind energy projects at 5 megawatts or under must follow the local ordinance.
Wind projects larger than 5 megawatts are permitted through the state.
Gevo’s project falls under the 5-megawatt limit for county permitting.
Electricity from the wind fuel project will tie directly into the Gevo plant, reducing the plant’s use of power generated from carbon-based sources.
If constructed, the two wind turbines could generate 20 million kilowatts, nearly matching the annual power needs for the Gevo plant.
The plant will continue to be connected to the Missouri River energy grid in times when the wind production cannot meet plant needs.
The proposed turbines have an 80-meter hub height with a 116-meter rotor diameter.
Thibert told commissioners that the plant’s Luverne location is ideal for the community energy project.
“It capitalizes on your local wind source, which is exceptional down here,” he said.
Average wind speed is 7.9 meters per second at the 80-meter hub height.
Juhl Energy recently completed a solar-wind hybrid project near Fergus Falls for a local electrical cooperative.
The 500 kilowatts of power is generated by the hybrid is sold directly into the rural cooperative’s distribution line under an alterative purchasing option.
“It allows them to save money and pass that savings on to their members,” Thibert said.
For Gevo, the use of renewable energy will also increase the value of its grain-based products.
States like California reward companies for decreasing carbon dioxide emissions in manufacturing processes.
Plant manager Cherry most recently worked at a California ethanol facility and has 20 years in the renewable energy business before coming to Luverne.

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