October 2, 2019
Nebraska

Landowners oppose wind turbine project proposal

By Beatriz Reyna | Oct 01, 2019 | www.knopnews2.com

A multi-million dollar project that’s been met with strong opposition from landowners, taxpayers and stakeholders in Cherry County for the past three years continues to fuel the fire.

Lynn and Mike Welker are fourth and fifth generation ranchers.

The father-daughter team fear the wind farm project proposed by BSH Kilgore LLC and Bluestem Sandhills LLC adjacent to their home will destroy the land.

However, the applicants assure their conditional use permit meets necessary requirements and is estimated to fuel 200-300 thousand dollars into the Cody-Kilgore school district a year.

“Your land values are going to tumble,” said fourth generation rancher Mike Welker. “They take away everything you got by putting up some get rich wind tower that’s ain’t going to pay for itself to begin with.”

“The starry nights that we have in Nebraska are second to none,” said fifth generation rancher Lynn Welker. “People travel from all over to enjoy and appreciate the Milky Way. We have that here.”

A injunction filed by Preserve the Sandhills LLC states Cherry County Commissioners Martin DeNaeyer and Tanya Storer posses serious conflicts of interest because they or their family members have significant and personal stakes in the outcome of the conditional use permit and stand to receive an annual payout of 300 thousand dollars if it’s approved.

As of Thursday, Bluestem Sandhills LLC was inactive, but are in the process of renewing their status with the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office.

Officials tell us it’s up to the courts to decide if any laws were broken since they are just a filing office.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the project at their October 15th meeting.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/10/02/landowners-oppose-wind-turbine-project-proposal/