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Idaho Wind Developer's Woes Mount With MN Lawsuit

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The legal woes facing an Idaho wind energy company are mounting, after a contractor building one of its projects in Minnesota went to court asking a federal judge to hand over control.

Fagan Inc. says it's entitled to ownership of the 18-turbine "Big Blue Project," near Blue Earth, Minn., on grounds that Exergy Development Group hasn't repaid a $11.4 million loan.

Fagan contends Exergy and its founder, James Carkulis, are still disputing ownership, causing confusion that's threatening the entire undertaking's survival.

Exergy already faces a $37.9 million civil suit from a turbine owner in Pennsylvania that claims it, too, hasn't been paid.

Earlier this year, Boise-based Exergy suspended more than $300 million worth of wind projects in its home state and has struggled to pay some of its other bills.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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