April 23, 2023
Iowa

Wind farm worries: Wind turbine setback ordinance focus of workshop

Apr 12, 2023 | Kelby Wingert | messengernews.net

Many Webster County residents are unhappy about the prospect of a new wind farm being built in the northern part of the county, and they voiced their concerns and questions to the Webster County Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday evening.

Some landowners in the northern part of Webster County near Badger and Vincent say they have been approached by MidAmerican Energy Co. recently about a plan to erect new wind turbines in the area.

The wind farm project – which would be called Gypsum Wind Farm – is in its earliest stages, according to MidAmerican Energy Senior Project Developer Matt Ott. At this point, he said, MidAmerican is trying to gather information on interest from landowners willing to participate in the project.

About 50 residents attended a workshop hosted by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday and of the dozen or so who spoke, all were against any new wind turbines in the county. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss proposed amendments to the county’s ordinance that dictates where wind turbines are allowed to be constructed, and where they are not allowed, called setbacks.

Under the current ordinance – enacted about a decade ago for the Lundgren Wind Farm project – commercial wind turbines cannot be constructed within 150 feet of property lines; 600 feet of wildlife management areas and state recreational areas; 600 feet of wetlands; or 1,000 feet of neighboring dwelling units.

The proposed ordinance includes the following stricter setback regulations:

• Distance between a commercial wind turbine and property lines must be a minimum of 1.1 times the tower height.

• Commercial wind turbines must be a minimum of one-fourth of a mile [1,320 feet] away from residential dwelling units of participating property owners, or a minimum of one mile away form non-participating dwellings.

• Distance between a commercial wind turbine and roads must be 1.1 times the tower height.

• Distance between a commercial wind turbine and other structures or cemeteries must be 1.1 times the tower height.

• Commercial wind turbines must be a minimum of one mile away from Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, Lizard Creek Wildlife Management Area, Bob Hay Conservation Area, Miller Marsh and the Des Moines River.

• Distance between a commercial wind turbine and United States Fish and Wildlife Service wetlands must be at least 600 feet.

Some property owners said they feel that the proposed setbacks are not strict enough and Ott said the proposed setbacks restrict the project too much and could possibly prevent it from advancing.

The proposed ordinance also includes a provision that requires MiddAmerican to provide guidance and training to local emergency services and fire departments on how to respond to a disaster involving a wind turbine.

Ultimately, the decision on whether to update or change the existing ordinance related to wind farms lies with the Webster County Board of Supervisors. The Planning and Zoning Commission will give their recommendation to the board, but the board will decide whether to adopt, reject or amend the ordinance. That process would also include a series of public hearings where residents can give their comments on the issue.

The Planning and Zoning Commission took no action Tuesday.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2023/04/23/wind-farm-worries-wind-turbine-setback-ordinance-focus-of-workshop/

Click here to print.