Wind project team says turbine deliveries mostly complete; supervisors press road-use and dust-control enforcement

MidAmerican Energy representatives reported progress on the Shenandoah Hills wind project and fielded questions from the Page County Board of Supervisors about road use, dust control and pavement damage.

Company representatives Kelsey and John said crews have erected 38 of 54 turbines across two counties and that use of a particular county road for turbine deliveries is ending, with the company beginning the process of turning the route back to the county. Board members said they had not received the written notice required by the county’s road use agreement when routes were changed and asked the company to provide written notification before altering approved routes.

Supervisors pressed for dust-control measures, noting the county agreement calls for magnesium chloride and water; the company said it uses magnesium chloride at several intersections and will evaluate each request case by case, sometimes using water trucks for short-term needs or ahead of rain. The board also raised repeated concerns about pavement failures on J 52 (a paved road heavily used by project traffic). MidAmerican and county staff said the company has paid for extensive patching (county staff referenced roughly $180,000 in prior work) and that further work will proceed when weather allows and when an economy of scale justifies bringing contractors in for longer stretches.

Company representatives agreed to review the road use notice procedures, to coordinate more proactively with JD King (the county engineer) and to respond to specific dust-control requests from residents. County staff said they will continue to monitor road conditions and pursue rock and blading on gravel segments as needed.