December 31, 2015
North Dakota

Stark County residents unhappy about wind farm approval

By Sara Berlinger | KFYR-TV | Dec 30, 2015 | www.kfyrtv.com

Many people don’t like wind farms anywhere near their property.

Stark County’s Commission and the Planning and Zoning Board approved NextEra’s 87-turbine wind project last week.

And they say there a some hurt feelings.

Commissioners say the choice for green energy was one of the most difficult decisions they’ve made.

No matter what was decided on the wind farm, commissioners say one group would have left unhappy.

“Stressful, a big decision had to be made, and hopefully we made the right one,” said Pete Kuntz, Stark County commissioner.

Both the County Commission and Planning and Zoning Board approved the Brady Wind Project for Southern Stark County. It’s a topic that’s divided parts of the community.

“Anytime you make a decision like that it affects somebody adversely. But again we have to, we have to move forward,” Duane “Bucky” Wolf, Stark County commissioner.

Residents have opposed the project because of the size and noise of the turbines, in public hearings and online. Dec. 22 was no different.

Last Tuesday roughly 100 people gathered in this room for the vote on NextEra’s wind farm, but this wasn’t the first time they appeared before the commission.

“It was more in a highly residential area, and that was the part the last time I think where the commission decided to say; the commission voted no on it,” said Russ Hoff, Stark County Commission chairman.

Last May the commission denied a NextEra wind farm for the Richardton-Taylor area over the location of the project. Wolf says the Brady Wind Project is situated in a much less populated area.

“It’s a good fit and it’s a good place to try a pilot project,” Wolf said.

Brady Wind is the first wind farm for Stark County.

Commissioners say they won’t accept any more applications for wind farms until Brady Wind is up and running for some time.​

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/12/31/stark-county-residents-unhappy-about-wind-farm-approval/