'In 20 years all the wind farms will be dead — Only the ugliness will
remain.'

<https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/11/20/14-year-old-casper-wind-farm-has-not-turned-a-blade-in-at-least-3-years/>

'14-Year-Old Casper Wind Farm Has Not Turned A Blade In At Least 3 Years
The 11 wind turbines on the northeast side of Casper once represented
the region’s first step into renewable energy. Now, some say they are an
eyesore that has idled for at least three years.

'
'Casper — For the past 14 years they have loomed over the landscape of
northeastern Casper, once the symbol of the county’s first step into
green energy. Now some say they are just an eyesore.

The blades of the 11 240-feet high, 450,000-pound turbines haven’t
caught the wind for a few years.

Casper resident Terry Wingerter said he was one of the Natrona County
commissioners who approved the initial project in 2009. He wishes now he
would have voted differently on the wind farm.

“They were the first towers in this area, and we had several
neighborhood meetings out there,” he said. “Some of the neighbors were
terribly against it and some of the others just didn’t care. It was the
first one in this area so we voted for them.”

The wind turbines were erected on the north side of the North Platte
River across from where the old Texaco refinery once stood. Wingerter
said both the EPA and Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
considered the entire area contaminated from the refinery operations
over six decades.

Wingerter said there was not much that the company could do out there
but put up the towers.

At the EPA’s website, it states that entire site of the refinery’s
footprint needed cleanup. The 880-acre area north of the river had
evaporation ponds used to treat refinery wastewater that contained
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons that did not require removal but were
designated as a “Use Control Area” to restrict the property’s future
use.

The Pitch
Chevron’s President Greg Vesey in 2009 called the project “an excellent
opportunity and location for the company’s first wholly owned wind
facility, but the Casper Wind Farm also brings the former refinery site
back into energy production with renewable energy.”

Wingerter said the initial pitch to the community was that the wind farm
would send its electricity to the Dave Johnston Power Plant between
Glenrock and Douglas.

“Now they haven’t been used for I don’t know how long, I am guessing
three years,” he said. “Now it’s an eyesore, if you ask me.”

The EPA website states that Chevron had secured a power purchase
agreement (PPA) “with the local utility, Rocky Mountain Power, for the
electricity it would generate.”

“PPAs significantly reduce the risk associated with renewable energy
projects by creating a long-term market for the electricity generated,”
the EPA website states on its Casper Wind Farm page.

Rocky Mountain Power spokesperson David Eskelsen said the Casper Wind
Farm project previously had a power purchase agreement with PacifiCorp,
but when it came time for renewal, “the project owner elected not to
renew.” He also said that any power the wind farm or other generation
projects produce do not go to specific locations, such as the Dave
Johnston plant. The PacifiCorp transmission system would make the energy
available to customers virtually anywhere on PacifiCorp’s system.

Wingerter said he was invited to a meeting about three months ago by
Chevron in Evansville, where company representatives talked about
getting the wind turbines operational. But he said it’s hard to know if
that’s going to happen.

A Letter
The Natrona County Attorney’s Office received notice from Chevron in a
letter Sept. 4 that its turbines are no longer operating.

“By this letter Chevron notifies the commission that as of Aug. 31,
2024, the Casper Wind Farm is in partial non-operation,” wrote Gregory
Germani, the general manager of operations for Chevron Pipeline and
Power. “Partial non-operation occurred because there are transmission
constraints and firm transmission service in not available to transmit
power generated at Casper Wind Farm.”

Partial non-operation is defined as occurring when less than 50% of the
turbine towers generate electricity that is transmitted off the site for
eight consecutive months.

The company wrote that it is registering the wind farm as a resource
under the Western Energy Market and “expects” to resume operations by
the end of the year.

The company initially received a conditional use permit from the county
commission Feb. 3, 2009, for operation of the 11 1.5-megawatt turbines.

Current Natrona County Commission Chairman Peter Nicolaysen said he was
unaware of the letter to the county attorney and would investigate it.
He said he was contacted by Chevron officials and its Nebraska-based
consultant Monte McKillip about 18 months ago and had heard from
then-Evansville Mayor Chad Edwards about some concerns due to the wind
farm’s inactivity.

Idle wind turbines line the horizon on northeast of Casper and just
outside the Evansville limits. The have not turned for at least three
years.
Idle wind turbines line the horizon on northeast of Casper and just
outside the Evansville limits. The have not turned for at least three
years. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
Odd Meeting
He said the Chevron representatives then had “zero update” and “zero
information whether they were going to turn it on and when.”

“They alluded to something about not being able to sell the power to
Rocky Mountain Power,” he said. “I think they alluded to something
about, ‘Well, if you don’t have a place to sell the power …’ That was
all they would say. They weren’t able to answer any questions. It was a
complete waste of my time.”

Nicolaysen said it seemed to him that the company was checking a box to
say that it had met with the county.

“It was one of the odder (meetings) I’ve had in my time as a
commissioner,” he said.

When contacted, McKillip said he would not be the best spokesperson on
the status of the wind farm. Attempts to reach other Chevron officials
were not responded to by the time this story was posted.

As a local resident and attorney in 2009, Nicolaysen said he remembers
the controversy surrounding the initial construction of the development
and as a ranch owner in the region saw the windmills operate, cease
operation, operate intermittently and then stop altogether about four
years ago.

Nicolyasen said the wind farm whether operating or not still has to pay
property taxes.

“If I were a neighbor or landowner, I wouldn’t want it to just be
sitting there,” he said. “It’s one of those things where we are not
anti-wind, but we are also not anti-wind energy regulation. I think it
would be better for the community if it were operating or if it were
decommissioned.

The county treasurer’s office was not able to immediately supply the
taxes paid by the wind farm.

State Rep. Forrest Chadwick, R-Casper, whose House District 62 includes
the wind farm, said he has not heard complaints from constituents on the
issue but believes the company needs to do something other than allow
the wind turbines to sit idle in the wind.

“They either need to go back in operation or tear them down,” he said.
“It’s that simple.'

John Smyth wrote:
> 'In 20 years all the wind farms will be dead — Only the ugliness will
> remain.'
>

Altamont Pass started in 1981. Still running 40 years later. And
it has spread to the Tejachapis.

--
Siri Seal of Disavowal #000-001. Disavowed. Denied. @
'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' /|\
The Church of the Holey Apple .signature 3.2 / \
of Discordian Mysteries. This post insults Islam. Mohamed

On 11/21/24 3:27 PM, Siri Cruise wrote:
> John Smyth wrote:
>> 'In 20 years all the wind farms will be dead — Only the ugliness will
>> remain.'
>>
>
> Altamont Pass started in 1981. Still running 40 years later. And it has
> spread to the Tejachapis.

If one is going to complain about abandoned sites, look at oil wells,
for they have higher ongoing pollution from methane leaks, etc:

"Studies estimate there are over 3,000,000 abandoned wells in the US,
and up to 750,000 in PA alone"

<https://extension.psu.edu/abandoned-wells-in-pa-what-is-a-reasonable-estimate>

-hh

Siri Cruise wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:

> John Smyth wrote:
>> 'In 20 years all the wind farms will be dead — Only the ugliness will
>> remain.'
>
> Altamont Pass started in 1981. Still running 40 years later. And
> it has spread to the Tejachapis.

Even li'l ol' "red" Indiana:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Indiana

As of March of 2024, Indiana had a total of 2,743 MW of wind power capacity
installed, ranking it 12th among U.S. states. Wind power was responsible
for 4.8% of in-state electricity production in 2016.

--
To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and, whatever you hit,
call it the target.

Chris Ahlstrom wrote:
> Siri Cruise wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:
>
>> John Smyth wrote:
>>> 'In 20 years all the wind farms will be dead — Only the ugliness will
>>> remain.'
>>
>> Altamont Pass started in 1981. Still running 40 years later. And
>> it has spread to the Tejachapis.
>
> Even li'l ol' "red" Indiana:
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Indiana
>
> As of March of 2024, Indiana had a total of 2,743 MW of wind power capacity
> installed, ranking it 12th among U.S. states. Wind power was responsible
> for 4.8% of in-state electricity production in 2016.
>
they'll change the orbit of the planet

On Nov 21, 2024 at 3:03:44 PM MST, "%" wrote
<5eKcnWKV4NvdM6L6nZ2dnZfqnPqdnZ2d@giganews.com>:

> Chris Ahlstrom wrote:
>> Siri Cruise wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:
>>
>>> John Smyth wrote:
>>>> 'In 20 years all the wind farms will be dead — Only the ugliness will
>>>> remain.'
>>>
>>> Altamont Pass started in 1981. Still running 40 years later. And
>>> it has spread to the Tejachapis.
>>
>> Even li'l ol' "red" Indiana:
>>
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Indiana
>>
>> As of March of 2024, Indiana had a total of 2,743 MW of wind power
>> capacity
>> installed, ranking it 12th among U.S. states. Wind power was responsible
>> for 4.8% of in-state electricity production in 2016.
>>
> they'll change the orbit of the planet

Then we will have a bit orbituary.

--
Personal attacks from those who troll show their own insecurity. They cannot use reason to show the message to be wrong so they try to feel somehow superior by attacking the messenger.

They cling to their attacks and ignore the message time and time again.

Snit wrote:
> On Nov 21, 2024 at 3:03:44 PM MST, "%" wrote
> <5eKcnWKV4NvdM6L6nZ2dnZfqnPqdnZ2d@giganews.com>:
>
>> Chris Ahlstrom wrote:
>>> Siri Cruise wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:
>>>
>>>> John Smyth wrote:
>>>>> 'In 20 years all the wind farms will be dead — Only the ugliness will
>>>>> remain.'
>>>>
>>>> Altamont Pass started in 1981. Still running 40 years later. And
>>>> it has spread to the Tejachapis.
>>>
>>> Even li'l ol' "red" Indiana:
>>>
>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Indiana
>>>
>>> As of March of 2024, Indiana had a total of 2,743 MW of wind power
>>> capacity
>>> installed, ranking it 12th among U.S. states. Wind power was responsible
>>> for 4.8% of in-state electricity production in 2016.
>>>
>> they'll change the orbit of the planet
>
> Then we will have a bit orbituary.
>
i saw that bar bitch you ate

On Nov 21, 2024 at 3:32:14 PM MST, "%" wrote
<0KScnYcarJxzKaL6nZ2dnZfqn_UAAAAA@giganews.com>:

> Snit wrote:
>> On Nov 21, 2024 at 3:03:44 PM MST, "%" wrote
>> <5eKcnWKV4NvdM6L6nZ2dnZfqnPqdnZ2d@giganews.com>:
>>
>>> Chris Ahlstrom wrote:
>>>> Siri Cruise wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:
>>>>
>>>>> John Smyth wrote:
>>>>>> 'In 20 years all the wind farms will be dead — Only the ugliness will
>>>>>> remain.'
>>>>>
>>>>> Altamont Pass started in 1981. Still running 40 years later. And
>>>>> it has spread to the Tejachapis.
>>>>
>>>> Even li'l ol' "red" Indiana:
>>>>
>>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Indiana
>>>>
>>>> As of March of 2024, Indiana had a total of 2,743 MW of wind power
>>>> capacity
>>>> installed, ranking it 12th among U.S. states. Wind power was responsible
>>>> for 4.8% of in-state electricity production in 2016.
>>>>
>>> they'll change the orbit of the planet
>>
>> Then we will have a bit orbituary.
>>
> i saw that bar bitch you ate

Does that count as meat or milk?

--
Personal attacks from those who troll show their own insecurity. They cannot use reason to show the message to be wrong so they try to feel somehow superior by attacking the messenger.

They cling to their attacks and ignore the message time and time again.

% wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:

> Chris Ahlstrom wrote:
>> Siri Cruise wrote this post while blinking in Morse code:
>>
>>> John Smyth wrote:
>>>> 'In 20 years all the wind farms will be dead — Only the ugliness will
>>>> remain.'
>>>
>>> Altamont Pass started in 1981. Still running 40 years later. And
>>> it has spread to the Tejachapis.
>>
>> Even li'l ol' "red" Indiana:
>>
>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Indiana
>>
>> As of March of 2024, Indiana had a total of 2,743 MW of wind power capacity
>> installed, ranking it 12th among U.S. states. Wind power was responsible
>> for 4.8% of in-state electricity production in 2016.
>>
> they'll change the orbit of the planet

Nah, they'll make maga snowflakes have conniption fits. They're quite
susceptible to the condition. Witness the reaction formation to
"Woke".

:-D

--
I hate trolls. Maybe I could metamorph it into something else -- like a
ravenous, two-headed, fire-breathing dragon.
-- Willow