North Dakota commission approves rule changes for wind energy project decommissioning
The North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) approved rule changes this week related to the decommissioning process for wind projects and the lighting systems used at the projects.
“A half century ago our ancestors made a commitment to ensure that our coal mines would be reclaimed when the prairie became quiet again,” Commission Chairman Randy Christmann said. “These new rules demonstrate a renewed commitment by our generation to ensure that North Dakota’s beautiful landscape will be returned to its splendor when these giant wind turbines reach the end of their usefulness.”
The new rules require decommissioning plans to be approved by the Commission before the operation of a facility, establish the time in which a company is allowed to complete decommissioning, and require financial assurance for decommissioning of projects sited after July 1, 2017.
The commission also recognized that the red, blinking lights on wind towers are often unpopular with residents. The lighting rule allows preference to be given to projects that utilize light mitigation technology subject to commercial availability and Federal Aviation Administration approval. Since June 2016, the PSC has required projects to use aircraft detections systems, which detect aircraft using radar and only use lights when an aircraft is in the area.
The rule changes will be sent to the Legislature’s Administrative Rules Committee for final approval.
