Wind farm construction to start next month

Construction on a 224 Megawatt windfarm along the Donley and Gray county border should begin next month and be completed by the end of 2016, according to a report Monday at the Donley County Commissioners’ Court meeting.
Vince Green with EDF Renewable Energy said Blattner Energy will be the general contractor on the job and that foundation work should begin in December.
The project will see a total of 112 two-Megawatt wind turbines erected in northwestern Donley and southwestern Gray county near Interstate 40.  Ninety-five of the turbines will be in Donley County, Green said.
Blattner Energy is planning a job fair for general laborers as well as heavy equipment operators next Thursday, November 19, at the Pampa Chamber of Commerce office, 200 N. Ballard, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Commissioners approved a request from EDF to delay by one year the start of a tax abatement for the wind farm, which is being termed Salt Fork One.  Plans are already underway for a second wind farm nearby called Salt Fork Two.
In other county business, commissioners and County Judge John Howard discussed whether county road hands need to have commercial driver’s licenses and whether the county must require random drug testing of CDL holders. No action was taken, but the subject will be up for discussion again next month.
Commissioners also agreed to have the judge work with the Texas Association of Counties to get a possible schedule for risk management trainings.
The court approved a policy for the cremation of paupers and adopted a resolution supporting the 2016 Indigent Defense Grant Program.
Commissioners also discussed the need to clean and repair gutters on the courthouse.