March 20, 2024
Indiana

Commissioners approve moratorium on new wind farm projects

Ken de la Bastide, The Herald Bulletin | March 19, 2024 | heraldbulletin.com

A moratorium on the development of any new wind farms in Madison County has been approved by the Madison County Board of Commissioners.

The Commissioners Tuesday voted to approve the recommendation of the county’s Plan Commission to put in place the moratorium

The county adopted a wind farm ordinance in 2002 and only one project has been approved since that time in northern Madison County.

Larry Strange, director of the Planning Department, said the ordinance should be reviewed.

“The ordinance should be reviewed prior to any new applications for a wind farm or battery storage facilities,” Strange said.

Commissioner John Richwine asked what time frame was included with the moratorium.

Strange said there was no limit on the length of the moratorium set by the Plan Commission, but anticipated having the ordinance reviewed within one year.

He previously said the application process for future wind farm developments should be similar to the procedures adopted in the county’s new solar energy ordinance.

“The wind ordinance should have the same level of scrutiny,” he said. “There should be a site development plan review that would have to be approved by the Plan Commission.”

The Commissioners also approved an amendment to the county’s solar ordinance.

The amendment changes the proposed three-mile buffer zone between any solar energy facility and local waterways to one-mile.

Strange said a one-mile buffer zone is sufficient.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2024/03/20/commissioners-approve-moratorium-on-new-wind-farm-projects/