June 8, 2011
Minnesota

Public hearing on Gundersen Lutheran wind project June 16

By Sarah Elmquist, Winona Post, www.winonapost.com

The Winona County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed new renewable energy regulations on Thursday, June 16 at 6 p.m.

Along with the public hearing on the new regulations for wind and solar energy systems, the commission will review a request that would change a previous Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a Gundersen Lutheran wind energy project that would put higher towers north of Lewiston.

The Gundersen Lutheran project was initially slated to include three 404-foot turbines on land just north of Lewiston. The project received a CUP last year, and now developers are seeking an amendment to that permit that would allow two, 462-foot towers in the same location.

Prior to that public hearing, the commission will receive public comments on the proposed new wind and solar energy regulations included in the new draft Chapter 12 of the zoning ordinance. When the new zoning ordinance was adopted, the County Board recognized that the chapter regulating wind and solar was deficient, asking that the Planning Commission begin drafting an improved Chapter 12 as soon as the Zoning Ordinance was adopted.

The Planning Commission has been working on the new chapter for several months. The new regulations can be viewed by visiting www.co.winona.mn.us under “quick links.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/06/08/public-hearing-on-gundersen-lutheran-wind-project-june-16/