Exergy Faces More Legal Battles

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. Fagen 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. Fagen 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.