E. Idaho group wants court to look at wind farms
A limited partnership in southeastern Idaho has requested a judicial review of the Bingham County commissioners’ approval of two wind farms.
Natural Guardian Limited Partnership of Idaho Falls, started by wind-farm foe Frank VanderSloot, requested the review late last month because it said the production of energy is not in compliance with a county ordinance.
The partnership also said there were inconsistencies within the county’s planning and zoning decisions when it came to approving the wind farms.
“Our whole point is to make sure the process is open to the public and fair,” Troy Peterson, an attorney for the group, told the Idaho State Journal.
Commissioners early last month approved two wind farms, voting first to approve Ridgeline Energy LLC’s 150-turbine wind farm on 20,000 acres along Wolverine Canyon, a popular recreation area south of Idaho Falls. VanderSloot, who owns health-care products company Melaleuca Inc., in Idaho Falls, fought the project near property he owns, contending its visual impact on the area would be inappropriate.
Commissioners the next day, Aug. 5, approved a permit for a 66-turbine wind farm proposed by Western Energy on 5,000 acres in the Cedar Creek area east of Firth.
“(The court) will look to make sure our decision was within the county’s ordinance,” said Commission Chairman Wayne Brower. “This is the next step for objectors.”
A date for judicial review of both wind farms has not yet been set.
The commissioners set special conditions for both wind farm projects, including a requirement that the 490-foot-tall turbines be at least one mile from any inhabited structure.
The projects must also get approval from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and state Department of Fish and Game.
The Ridgeline Energy project would produce enough energy to light about 300,000 homes. The Western Energy project would power about 40,000 homes.
Information from: Idaho State Journal, http://www.journalnet.com
A service of the Associated Press(AP)
5 September 2008
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