BUFFALO RIDGE PLANT APPROVED BY REGULATORS

Minnesota land-use regulators have approved the 100 MW wind plant to be built on Buffalo Ridge for Northern States Power (NSP) by Zond Systems Inc. The plan is at the centre of controversy following dispute by Kenetech Corp, the world's largest wind company, over NSP's selection of Zond, which was announced in June. NSP had submitted an environmental impact statement to the state Environmental Quality Board. On October 31, it was unanimously approved even although NSP and Zond are still negotiating their contract. Among others, Kenetech had testified against approval for the project, arguing that NSP's seizure of land for which it has wind rights would be unconstitutional. The matter is to be decided in the courts.