August 5, 2022
Kansas

County Commissioners approve wind energy regulations

John Richmeier | Leavenworth Times | August 5, 2022 | www.leavenworthtimes.com

When they met this week, Leavenworth County commissioners approved wind energy regulations. Commissioners approved a resolution Wednesday to amend county zoning and subdivision regulations in order to enact regulations for “wind energy conversion systems.” Krystal Voth, director of the Leavenworth County Planningand Zoning Department, said the new regulations are in line with conversations commissioners previously had regarding wind energy.

Commissioner Mike Stieben said he wants to prevent wind farms with large towers from being established in the county.

“My main point is we don\u2019t want large generators and this pretty well does that,” he said of the resolution.

Voth said commercial wind towers are limited in height to200 feet as a result of the regulations. She said for commercial wind towers, 200 feet is on the “smaller side.”

She said the new regulations limit non-commercial wind generators, which people may install at their residences, to a height of 50 feet.

“We don’t want to open ourselves up to what is happening in western Kansas,” Stieben said.

Stieben said after the meeting that he does not believe the people he represents want to see large commercial wind farms in the county.

Commissioners approved the resolution 4-0. Commissioner Vicky Kaaz was absent.

[rest of article available at source]

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2022/08/05/county-commissioners-approve-wind-energy-regulations/