Apr 30 2011
SD: Water for wind? Maybe a little
A wind power project sought by Black Hills Power in South Dakota appears to have little by way of obstacles – even, prospectively, some water rights.
The company said on April 28 “that it filed a request for a declaratory ruling from the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. The request asks the commission to confirm that a proposed 20-megawatt wind farm near Belle Fourche, S.D., is reasonable and cost effective considering other renewable electricity alternatives and is an appropriate resource addition to meet the company’s resource or customer needs.”
The project also involves approvals from a string of other agencies, including the Fish & Wildlife Service and Department of Agriculture. One of those is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which issues permits on a number of types of projects that could have resource implications.
The Rapid City Journal reported on the DNR involvement, “The agency will also oversee a temporary amendment of the landowners’ water rights permits to allow well water to be used during construction. “The main criteria for us on the temporary permit is that it can’t interfere or adversely affect any other person’s rights for making that withdrawal,” said Eric Gronlund, engineering specialist with the DENR water rights program.”
