This evening, I traveled to Stockton with Representative Dan Johnson and his lovely wife Gwen, to attend a public forum considering the proposed Rooks County Wind Project that is planning construction of 25 wind turbines on either side of the Stockton Lake.

Roger Hrabe, Rooks County economic development director, began the meeting, introduced the dignitaries in the audience, and the presenters from ICG Aeolian Energy, LLC with offices in Washington, D.C., and the SWCA Environmental Consultant representatives, based in Denver, CO.

The turbines will be spread over approximately 2,000 acres of privately owned land and the project will be privately funded.  About 62 acres of land will be permanently developed, which includes the tower sites, roads and infrastructure necessary for the venture.

Through the use of a PowerPoint presentation, the ladies representing the environmental consulting group informed the audience of the results of their Environmental Impact Research.  No Lesser or Greater Prairie Chicken leks occupy this site, whooping cranes do not occur in this area, bats were studied, waterfowl, lake inhabitants, noise decibel levels, and possible paleontology finds were considered.  I found their study to be very thoughtful and thorough.

Questions asked by the audience were answered matter-of-factly and no one in attendance seemed to oppose the project.

Economic development possibilities for the area are numerous.  The community seems to be very progressive and forward-looking in this endeavor.

In the summer of 2008, I was part of a group that studied the wind park in Lincoln County.  We visited the park, talked to the park manager, visited the towers and enjoyed an engaging study of the possibilities and the challenges of wind power for Kansas.  I am a true fan of this emerging form of energy production, however, well aware of the current shortcomings.

Congratulations to Rooks County – a community anxious to go forward.