The Public Service Commission will be holding an additional public hearing on a wind farm project proposed for north central North Dakota.
The Rolette Wind Power project will be up to 100 megawatts, and would consist of up to 59 wind turbines. The initial hearing was June 29th. But Commissioner Brian Kalk says after a dead bald eagle was found at a Mercer County wind farm, there are renewed concerns.
"There are three bald eagles nests within the area," said Kalk. "They vary. One is as close as two miles, one is as far away as 30 miles. We're trying to figure out just what is the appropriate setback from a bald eagle nest to an active wind farm."
Kalk says he hopes the US Fish and Wildlife Service will testify at the hearing. And he says this may add some new standards for wind power projects.
"It may be hard to find an exact setback," said Kalk. "Each site will be a little different, based on what the eagles' patterns may be. But we're trying to flush out the factors that need to be considered, and use those as a template going forward."
The hearing will be held Monday, November 2nd, in Rolette.
