Abstract
Moving Invenergy’s Wind Forward beyond Setbacks
Track: Electric Utilities
Author(s): Jacqueline Hamilton, Mike Arndt
Siting a large-scale wind farm requires consideration of a wide range of factors including appropriate wind resources, the proximity of electrical transmission lines, and suitable land use. Additionally, state, and local authorities frequently have regulatory requirements that can greatly influence wind farm development. As such, information on easement acquisitions, property line setbacks, noise constraints, wetlands, or protected cultural resources are all important when siting a wind farm. Invenergy LLC uses ArcGIS to identify these constraints as well as manage and limit the potential impacts. Invenergy’s Grand Ridge Wind project in LaSalle County, Illinois used ArcGIS extensively to assist in siting turbines while limiting environmental impacts and involving landowners and public officials. The use of ArcGIS to calculate, identify setbacks and avoid obstacles accelerated the development of the Grand Ridge project and allowed Invenergy to move Grand Ridge forward to project completion.
Jacqueline Hamilton
HDR Engineering
701 Xenia Ave. S.
Minneapolis , Minnesota 55416
United States
Phone: 763-591-5432
E-mail: Jacqueline.Hamilton@hdrinc.com
Mike Arndt
Invenergy
121 South Eighth St.
Suite 960
Minneapolis , Minnesota 55402
United States
Phone: 612-208-0189
E-mail: jhamilto@hdrinc.com