March 21, 2018
Kansas

Commission will open NextEra presentation to public comment

By John Green | The Hutchinson News | Posted Mar 20, 2018 | www.hutchnews.com

The Reno County Commission has decided to open to questions and comments from the general public a presentation scheduled before it next Tuesday by NextEra Energy on a proposed wind farm in Reno County.

“We’ve had a lot of emails about it, from both opponents and proponents,” Commissioner Dan Deming said of the plan for a 100-turbine farm in an area between Haven and Cheney Reservoir, which the Florida company announced plans for in December.

If the company proceeds with the project, based on information provided at a public open house in December, it appears most of it will be within the zoned portion of the county and thus require a conditional use permit. To obtain such a permit would require public hearings before the county planning board and commission.

After proposing opening next week’s presentation to take public comment, Deming asked County Administrator Gary Meagher to advise NextEra officials about the commission’s plan, “so they can be prepared to answer them (the public’s questions.)”

Commissioner Bob Bush then asked Meagher to forward all emails the commissioners have received from constituents on the issue.

“I don’t want anyone feeling blindsided or that they didn’t get a chance to talk,” Bush said.

Meagher said he hadn’t received any emails, but he’d forward whatever the commissioners sent him.

The presentation will occur during the commission’s regular 9 a.m. meeting in commission chambers, though its placement on the agenda hasn’t been determined.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/03/21/commission-will-open-nextera-presentation-to-public-comment/