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PSC considering wind farm decommissioning rules

The Public Service Commission is looking at the requirements for decommissioning wind farms.

When the Legislature passed wind farm laws in 2003, it required the companies to file decommissioning plans with the PSC. And lawmakers said after ten years, the Commission could require companies to have bonding in-place for the turbine removal.

That’s what the PSC has been discussing.

"I don't think future generations would look kindly upon us if in 100 years from now, there's a thousand wind turbines out there just blowing in the wind, doing absolutely nothing," said Commissioner Randy Christmann. "I know that's not the intention of the companies. But I think we want to make sure that there are adequate resources to see that it doesn't happen."

"We hold our coal mines to a very high standard, and that's good," said PSC Chairman Brian Kalk. "Perhaps we should be holding wind farms to that same standard."

Christmann says removing wind turbines could be an expensive process.

"If you read through the decommissioning plans filed by the companies, removal costs range from $40,000 to $100,000 per turbine," said Christmann. "We have almost a thousand wind turbines. And at some point, the cumulative amount of money required to dismantle the old turbines will be a big amount."

The Commission has been holding informal work sessions on the rules , and may schedule a formal hearing later.

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