The
Goodhue project made national news because it was going to be built in a
major bald eagle migration and nesting area near the Mississippi River,
and was an important golden eagle migration and wintering location. The
man being investigated is the former head of Noble Power (Energy) whose
activities were looked at by the NY Attorney General several years ago (but who did nothing).
The article depicts how the wind companies change names in quick
succession.
Troubled wind project target of FBI scrutiny, industry criticism
Credit: Brett Boese |
August 31, 2013 |
www.postbulletin.com ~~
ZUMBROTA — The New Era
wind project appears likely to have its state-issued permits revoked
this fall after missing two deadlines that required it to either begin
construction or surrender its permits by Aug. 23, according to a
Minnesota Public Utilities spokesperson.
That course of action could finally close the book on what’s been the most controversial wind project in state history.
The 78-megawatt project was first
proposed in 2008 by National Wind. During the past five years, five
lawsuits have been filed, ownership has changed hands twice, fines have
been levied for illegal lobbying and — in the most recent development —
the Federal Bureau of Investigation apparently has conducted interviews
as part of a potential fraud investigation.
Four local critics of the $180 million wind project, representing
opposition groups Goodhue Wind Truth and the Coalition for Sensible
Siting, say they spent a January morning in St. Paul detailing their
concerns to two FBI investigators. Developers have spent more than $15
million seeking state permits, according to a filing at the PUC, while
local opposition has spent six figures in the protracted legal battle.
“(The FBI is) always interested
to hear from citizens,” said Marie McNamara, a Goodhue farmer who
co-founded Goodhue Wind Truth. “I remember them saying they were hearing
concerns from other citizens across Minnesota (about the wind
industry). Overall, we were concerned about a lot of shenanigans. We
were concerned about the investments and money being lost by local
people.”
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