September 17, 2019
Indiana

Clinton Co. refuses to budge on wind farms, moratorium sticks despite E.ON’s push

Emily DeLetter, Lafayette Journal & Courier, Published Sept. 16, 2019, jconline.com

FRANKFORT, Ind. – Clinton County commissioners stood firm Monday on a moratorium against wind turbines, continuing the county’s ban on wind farms despite a Chicago company’s push to change their minds.

The decision came during a meeting at the Frankfort Community Public Library, with a large crowd of those in favor and against the potential placement of wind turbines in the northeast part of the county by E.ON, a Chicago-based renewable energy company.

E.ON had been working for months to persuade Clinton County to place wind turbines, capped by a catered dinner Thursday, complete with hourly raffle prizes, to attempt to convince attendees of the benefits of placing wind turbines in the county. The company also created a website specific to the Clinton County project, countering backlash it had been receiving in the county and outlining answers to common questions, such as potential decrease in property value, sound and health concerns.

E.ON proposed a project that would have placed between 35 and 52 turbines on 39,000 acres in the northeast part of the county. E.ON has been pushing placing wind turbines since the company first arrived to gauge support in 2013. Clinton County has had a moratorium on wind farms since 2017.

Concerning the duration of the moratorium, Commissioner Josh Uitts said the most likely scenario is that the Wind Energy Conversion System ordinance setback requirement in Clinton County will be increased. The original intent for the moratorium’s duration was to be until the Indiana General Assembly has taken action regarding wind farms, or until Clinton County commissioners were satisfied with their own ordinance.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/09/17/clinton-co-refuses-to-budge-on-wind-farms-moratorium-sticks-despite-e-ons-push/