The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors approved zoning compliance permits for Allete Clean Energy’s wind turbine repowering project last Tuesday.
County Environmental Health and Zoning Director Ben Mueggenberg outlined the process, noting that all required applications for the zoning compliance and special use permits were received July 24 and approved by the county board of adjustment a month later.
The permits cover turbine placement for 59 proposed pad locations, access roads, and electrical infrastructure. Allete plans to replace 259 existing wind turbines in Buena Vista County with 44 to 55 new, more efficient turbines. The final number will depend on site conditions and final equipment selection.
Some pads may be excluded if eagle nests or unsuitable ground conditions are found, says Mueggenberg.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027, but some early work may start next year to qualify for production tax credits, says Allete Project Development Manager Jim Moran.
Decommissioning of existing towers will begin ahead of construction. The top four feet of the foundations will be removed and backfilled with existing materials. Overhead power lines will also be removed, while underground collection systems will remain.
Moran and Mueggenberg explain the decomissioning process.
The new turbine foundations will be significantly wider but shallower than the existing ones.
Allete hopes to be operational by December 2027.
