Plan for skyscraper-size wind turbines in Minnesota opposed in neighboring S.D.

CANBY, Minn. — A proposed wind farm in southwestern Minnesota is stirring fierce opposition from across the state border less than a mile away in South Dakota’s resident community of Lake Cochrane.

U.K.-based Renewable Energy Systems’ Bitter Root Wind Project calls for raising 44 of the skyscraper-size machines in Minnesota’s Yellow Medicine County, near the South Dakota border. The turbines are capable of generating 50 percent more energy than the average U.S. turbine, the Minnesota Public Radio reported.

But the project is facing public opposition from residents of South Dakota’s Lake Cochrane, which sits less than a mile from the Minnesota border. The turbines are an “intrusion” and will interrupt views and produce noise, said resident Ron Ruud.

“Most of the people on the lake don’t even understand how massive these things are yet,” Ruud said. “We’re starting to show some pictures and they’re going, ‘Holy cow! We had no idea.’ Yeah, it’s shocking.”

Read more: https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/11/plan-for-skyscraper-size-wind-turbines-in-minnesota-opposed-in-neighboring-s-d/