The Fish and Wildlife Service is advising AWA Goodhue Wind to apply for a permit that would reduce its liability if any eagles are killed by the spinning turbines of its planned wind farm. Without a permit, a second offense could cost the company half-a-million dollars.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals has overturned a Goodhue County ordinance that would have prevented construction of a 50-turbine wind farm. But the project remains on hold until the developer comes up with a plan to protect eagles and other birds.

A 2.5 megawatt turbine in Rosemount will provide power for the grid and a full-scale testing ground for new technology. 3M is already planning to test a new innovation: a thin film that puts tiny ribs on the turbine blades. Researchers believe the ribs will reduce resistance and increase performance.

Goodhue Wind plans to apply for a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that would allow its turbines to kill eagles without facing penalties. The proposed 48-turbine site is set to be located north of Zumbrota in southeast Minnesota. MPR reports the hearing with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has not been rescheduled.

The Wisconsin State Journal is reporting that Emerging Energies has applied for a permit to build Highland Wind Farm, a 41-turbine, 102.5-megawatt project in the St. Croix County towns of Forest and Cylon, about 25 miles east of the Minnesota border.

Developers of a controversial wind farm in Goodhue County plan to apply for new federal permits to legally kill eagles. The Star Tribune reports the permits are part of a federal compromise between the demand for clean energy and the concern that wind farms could kill thousands of birds each year. The proposed 50-turbine site near Red Wing is home to a number of eagles and endangered golden eagles.