(Spirit Lake)– A public hearing into plans to expand a wind energy project in eastern Dickinson county got underway Monday evening at the courthouse in Spirit Lake. The county’s Board of Adjustment is holding the hearing, expected to continue the next couple of evenings. Invenergy, developer of the Red Rock Energy project, is applying for a county permit for the project, which is also proposed to include portions of Emmet and Clay counties.
Developer Joe Crowley told board members the project has been designed to exceed county regulations which were revised after an application was rejected by Dickinson county back in 2023. That proposal called for 79 turbines. This one is for 67 with the closest now 2.8 miles from Lower Gar and 4.85 miles from East Lake Okoboji. Crowley added the project has been designed to meet or exceed the county’s new requirements…
He added the project would bring economic benefits to some local school districts and landowners who have signed lease agreements.
The hearing was recessed for the evening around 10:30 pm and will resume at 6:00 pm this (Tues.) at the Dickinson County Courthouse when Board of Adjustment members are expected to start hearing verbal comments from citizens both opposed and in favor of the project. Monday night’s session consisted of a presentation from project developers which was followed by more than three hours of Zoning Administrator Megan Kardell reading letters and email correspondence both for and against.
