June 18, 2013
Indiana

Wells County council tables vote on wind farm

Hundreds Show Opposition to Wells County Wind Farm | By Rachel Martin | By Alex Miller | June 17, 2013 | www.indianasnewscenter.com

Wells County officials decided to push back their decision to approve the permits to a proposed wind farm until early July. Hundreds of residents attended to voice their opposition to the proposed farm.

Wind farm company Apex Wind Energy not only wants to set up shop in Wells County, but now they’re changing the height of the turbines, and where they want to build them.

The Area Plan Commission drew up an ordinance in March 2012, stating all their requirements, including a set-back distance of 1,000 ft. from a home. However, that ordinance was amended in Nov. making the set-back 1,800 ft. from a property line. That amendment took effect May 2013.

Wells County officials say when Apex realized that would limit the amount of turbines they could build, they filed for a permit before the amendment took effect, allowing them to abide by the original ordinance.

Now, Apex officials want the Area Plan Commission to approve their new requests and residents were speaking out and holding up signs, urging no way!

“I believe that the Wells Wind Two application fails to meet the requirements of the Wells County ordinance in four different, and distinct areas: noise requirements, shadow flicker considerations, software technical specifications, and interference requirements,” said one resident who spoke at the hearing Monday night.

On top of the 60 proposed turbines, Apex wants to build an additional 68 turbines in southern Wells County. These turbines will also be 14 ft. taller than originally proposed, making them 75 ft. taller than the One Summit Square building in downtown Fort Wayne.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/18/wells-county-council-tables-vote-on-wind-farm/