National Wind asks state to reverse delay

Attorneys representing wind development company National Wind have asked a state regulating body to reconsider its recent vote to delay a decision on the Goodhue Wind project.

Frederickson and Byron, P.A. of Minneapolis filed a “Petition for Reconsideration” today with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, arguing that there was no need for the delay.

"Because there is already an extensive record upon which the Commission can determine that AWA Goodhue is entitled to a site permit ... neither a contested case nor further delay is warranted," it reads. The company filed for a site permit with the state last November.

PUC officials were still reviewing the 17-page petition today, according to spokesman Dan Wolf.

“We’ll have more of an idea what this means next week,” he said.

Members of the state body moved to send the proposal for the 78-megawatt wind project back to an administrative law judge after the Goodhue County board passed an ordinance regulating commercial wind development in late September.

By state law, the commission has to consider local ordinances unless it has good cause not to do so. Commissioners said last month they did not have enough time to review the county ordinance in the run-up to their October meeting.

PUC officials estimated the delay, which would include more public hearings on the 78-megawatt project and another vote from the commission, would take several months -- a timeframe that National Wind officials have argued jeopardizes their project.

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