Wind farm weathers blows by neighbors

By Dan MacArthur
North Forty News

Supporters of the wind farm proposed by Colorado State University faced a skeptical reception by neighbors at the first public forum on the $500 million project.

Concerns chiefly centered on the visibility of the turbines and their corresponding effect on surrounding property values. The proposal also raised the ire among others contending its benefits would come at their expense.

At least 100 turbines would be installed on the university's 9,000-acre Maxwell Ranch and another 2,000 acres of adjoining lands some 25 miles northwest of Fort Collins. The wind farm is projected to be operational within two years.

The "Green Power Project" is aimed at providing clean, renewable energy meeting all of CSU's needs and more. It would serve as an outdoor laboratory while contributing to the university's goal of eliminating its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

CSU vice president for research Bill Farland said the wind farm is an important part of the university's plan for becoming a world-class leader in green technology.

"We're going to have a very unique research opportunity," he said.

In addition to its unprecedented use for research, Wind Holdings LLC chief executive officer Bruce Morley said, CSU's wind farm will generate millions of dollars to support the university through the sale of excess electricity not required for its own use.

A consortium of financial institutions and associates developing wind-power projects in the United States and Europe, Wind Holdings will finance and build the wind farm.

The Green Power Project will generate enough electricity beyond CSU's demand to serve more than 70,000 homes, according to the university.

"This is not just about power for the university," Farland maintained. He said that all of northern Colorado would benefit from the availability of clean power at reasonable prices.

"Once the project is built, the fuel is free," said Morley.

"This sounds like commerce, not research," Livermore resident Eugene Schumacher sharply asserted. His comments evoked applause among the 40 or so coat-clad residents gathered Oct. 21 in Marc and Sharon Milligan's large horse barn off Red Mountain Road.

Noting that their 400-acre ranch is surrounded by the CSU property, Sharon Milligan contended, "This is not going to be very positive to property values."

Others assailed the massive scale. The turbines would be mounted atop 265-foot-high tubular steel towers. The three-bladed rotors would be up to 140 feet in diameter. The structures would be erected 800 feet apart in rows with one-third to one-half mile between rows.

An underground collection system would gather electricity from each turbine generator and deliver it to a substation to be built. From there, a 30-mile transmission line would carry the electricity to the Ault transmission system. That new transmission line would parallel the current one in a separate 150-foot-wide right of way to be acquired from property owners

"We don't get a benefit other than looking out the window and seeing a 400-foot tower," said Glen Billing.

Billing said he and his wife Lisa learned of the wind farm shortly after closing on a nearly $400,000 retirement home purchased specifically because of the view. He demanded that proponents identify the effects on property values and asked whether owners would be compensated for any diminished property value. Farland said he would consult with the business school to address the questions.

"It seems like this is all happening at our expense," said Virginia Dale Estates resident Nate Ader. "I haven't heard a word about this."

"We haven't had the kind of details that would be meaningful to you until now," Farland said.

He, however, assured those present that there would be an elaborate public review process as spelled out in the so-called 1041 regulations adopted by the Larimer County Commissioners the previous night.

Those regulations granted by the state are aimed at making the development review process more predictable and giving the county ultimate approval authority. The just-adopted regulations applying to large electrical facilities were developed specifically in response to the pending Green Power Project.

With those new regulations in place, Wind Holdings will begin the application process this month. More public meetings in Livermore and Fort Collins and with all area neighbors will be conducted in December. Wind Holdings is expected to submit an application in January for review by the public, county staff and the various referral agencies.

The planning commission will likely conduct a public hearing in February, and the county commissioners' hearing is expected in March. If approved, work would begin shortly thereafter with completion anticipated in 2010