July 15, 2017
New Mexico

No action on wind ordinance moratorium

Firm hired to review the county's wind ordinance and recommend modifications in line with changing technology | Dianne L Stallings , Ruidoso News | July 14, 2017 | www.ruidosonews.com

Although a possible moratorium on approval of wind projects to allow an ordinance review and update topped the agenda for a special meeting of the Lincoln County Commission, no action was taken, no vote occurred.

Three commissioners, Tom Stewart, Dallas Draper and Lynn Willard, were at the June 30 meeting by telephone conference call. But after County Manager Nita Taylor read her memorandum on the item and noted that commissioners hired the firm of Sutin, Thayer and Browne to review the current ordinance to recommend modifications, all five commissioners were silent. Chairman Preston Stone then moved to the next road-related item on the agenda.

In her memo, Taylor wrote that on Feb. 15, 2011, the board adopted an ordinance providing for placement, construction, use and modifications of wind energy conversion systems consistent with the county’s land use policies, aimed at minimizing potential negative impacts of the systems and establishing an efficient process for review and approval of application.

Planning for such systems has been ongoing for six years and now are approaching reality and implementation, she said.

Recognizing the advancement in technology, commissioners decided a review is needed to protect the citizens of the county and to ensue placement, construction, use and modifications of the systems throughout the county are consistent with current industry standards, she wrote. They hired the firm to review the ordinance, including environmental impacts, and recommend changes.

“the temporary moratorium will allow the time required for the review of the current ordinqance, and, with input from the public, the adoption of a replacement ordinance,” Taylor wrote.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/07/15/no-action-on-wind-ordinance-moratorium/