Community developer Prevailing Winds has put on hold plans to build a 201MW wind farm in South Dakota in response to public opposition.
The applicant has asked state regulators to withdraw its application following a public hearing.
“The Prevailing Winds project is a community wind project and community is very important to the Prevailing Winds investors and board of governors,” said the proponent. “Unfortunately misinformation has been circulated about the project.”
The company was formed by the same group of 160 local investors that developed and sold the operational 80MW Beethoven wind farm, now owned by NorthWestern Energy.
“Prevailing Winds is moving to withdraw the application to allow Prevailing Winds to better inform the community on the wind project and allow Prevailing Winds to revisit its options regarding the project,” said the proponent.
The proposed development includes up to 100 turbines spread over a 36,000-acre site near Avon, in Bon Homme and Charles Mix counties.
A 230kV transmission line crosses the project area. The applicant had urged regulators to approve the project by year-end so it would qualify for full federal production tax credits, which will phase down from next year.
Image: SXC
