March 22, 2017
North Dakota

Wind energy setbacks passes House with amendments

NICK SMITH | Bismarck Tribune | March 21, 2017 | bismarcktribune.com

Increased setbacks for wind energy turbines were passed Tuesday by House members by a 60-32 vote.

Senate Bill 2313 creates setbacks of 1.1 times the height of a wind turbine from the property line of a nonparticipating landowner as well as three times the height of a turbine from an inhabited rural residence of a nonparticipating landowner.

The bill also establishes an ombudsmen program, overseen through the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, that would allow for the contracting of ombudsmen to provide technical assistance to property owners for restoration and reclamation of land on which wind energy projects are located.

House members added a series of amendments, including allowing local planning and zoning boards to require greater setbacks than required by the state. It also spells out legislative intent for the establishment of the ombudsman program.

The Senate can agree with the amendments or choose to hash out the differences in a conference committee on SB2313.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/03/22/wind-energy-setbacks-passes-house-with-amendments/