Never popular with the local citizens, the limited early support dwindled to a handful of families. Many local citizens have battled the proposed project for five years. Peter Mastic bought the troubled project from Picken's Mesa Power last October after heading National Wind, the proposed project's first owner and former developer.
After a three-and-a-half-page rant, Mastic finally admits, "New Era has no confidence that due process for this project will ever end, nor that an [Avian and Bat Protection Plan] will ever be approved...".
"...In an effort to reach a more practical solution that would...allow New Era to recover at least a portion of its investment, New Era initiated discussions [in December 2012] with [Xcel Energy] to assign its power contracts to a third-party wind project developer and site. ...New Era made a series of proposals... backed by three different project owners.... Each of these projects is sited in a community that is far more receptive to wind energy than is Goodhue."
"[Xcel] chose to reject all of these proposals. ...In its April 12, 2013 letter to New Era, [Xcel] stated that New Era would have 30 days from that date to effect a cure of the power contract defaults....for the remainder of the 30-day period specified by [Xcel], New Era will continue to attempt to complete the assignment and the cure of any and all defaults under the power contracts."
This is the first time citizens have successfully turned back an industrial wind project in Minnesota - a state with one of the strongest mandates in the nation for Big Wind. Given the extraordinary regulatory favoritism and financial largess, the demise of Goodhue Wind/ AWA Goodhue/ New Era is miraculous. Relentless participation by the remarkable people of Goodhue County paid off. Congratulations.
The Coalition for Sensible Siting has been a voice for citizens in this battle to prevent industrial wind devastation in a vibrant rural community with a remarkably diverse and healthy ecosystem.
2 comments:
Great news!!
The Mastic Rant adds credence to the previous question of Mastics ability to manage the project by the MPUC. The Rant is an insult to the MPUC and serves to further Blacken the Eye of the Wind Industry
As with last years rejection of the ABPP where New Era blamed citizens for the large eagle population citing an Active and Ongoing Eagle Baiting Program instead of taking blame for not doing the work.
In the Rant Mastic does not understand why his project has not been embraced by the Goodhue community.
Perhaps Mr. Mastic does not recall the desktop study that claims the project area void of suitable raptor habitat. Has he forgotten coming to the Belle Creek township meeting and telling our board they could not have a moratorium. The papers served on Chairman Ryan. How about the harassment charge against Dan Ryan by Brie Anderson that would be dropped if full access to his property was give. How about the 8-14 bald eagles Mastic thinks is alright to kill each year. Lie upon Lie, intimidation and extortion.
To you other communities more receptive to Mastic's plans. Our word of warning: USE EXTREME CAUTION! The experiences of New York and Goodhue County with Peter Mastic are a cautionary tale not to be ignored.
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