Elm Creek windmills and energy policy

In Windmills on the rise by Elm Creek, Ryan Brinks at the Jackson County Pilot looks at the 66-turbine Elm Creek Wind Farm project, which should be completed by the end of the year.

He drops in a quote by Tim Walz that had been included in a company press release on the project:

“In southern Minnesota, we are showing the rest of the nation what is possible in renewable energy development,” said Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn. “With skyrocketing energy prices, it is imperative that we work together to ensure that our growing wind industry remains strong.”

One of the policy developments that has helped spur the growth of Minnesota's wind industry was the passage of renewable energy standards in early 2007. This project helps put energy co-op Great River Energy over the top:

When finished, electricity from the Elm Creek Wind Farm is anticipated to be enough to power 29,000 homes annually and bring Great River Energy’s wind power total to 300 megawatts.

“This puts us in a position to meet and exceed the Minnesota Renewable Energy Standard,” [Great River Energy's renewable energy project leader Mark] Rathbun said.

Regardless of party, all of Southern Minnesota's legislators, including GOP 1st District congressional challenger Dick Day, voted for the renewable energy standards, which were signed into law by Governor Pawlenty. The bill enjoyed broad support, from environmental groups to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

As for Brian Davis? Who knows? He and his canned letter-to-the-editor senders are now touting his support for "alternative" energy. This week, Davis told the Strib he supports subsidizing the wind industry, right after he told MPR that subsidies for wind energy should be cut. Back in January, he was firmly against the standards, which he condemned as "mandates." Where is he now? What compelling policy reason would dictate cutting standards?

Photo: Sunset at the Trimont Area Wind Farm, the first project from local landowners and Iberdrola Renewables (formerly PPM). Read more about the Trimont Area Wind Farm in this 2006 article;  PPM has since changed its name to Iberdrola Renewables.