Washington County supervisors pass first reading of ordinance restricting wind turbines
Credit: By Rebekah Vaughan · Published: Dec. 10, 2024, at kcrg.com ~~
It will be tougher to bring wind farms to rural Washington County if the board of supervisors continues to vote the way it did Tuesday on a new ordinance.
The Washington County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the first reading of a wind energy ordinance this morning.
The ordinance would restrict where wind turbines could be built and require a guarantee that new wind turbines would not impact the value of any property within two miles.
It would also require turbines to be at least a mile away from most gathering places such as schools, libraries, and churches unless there is a written agreement.
The vote came less than 24 hours after the board heard questions and concerns during a public hearing.
Greg Coch is a farmer in Washington County. He went to a public hearing Monday to share his thoughts on a proposed ordinance that would set rules for where wind turbines could be built in unincorporated parts of the county. He supports the ordinance.
”It gives a lot of different people a voice cause a lot of people don’t want them. They don’t want them in their view-scape. They don’t want them in their environment and it gives those people an opportunity to have more of a setback than you would ordinarily see,” Coch said Monday evening.
Coch also attended the supervisor’s meeting Tuesday morning, urging the supervisors to pass the ordinance.
Linda Boston was also at Monday night’s meeting and was raised on a farm. But she’s against the ordinance.
“It’s really not going to help us here immediately, it just helps in the long run. Our carbon footprint. And shouldn’t we be concerned about having the most healthy environment that we can for our world?” Boston said.
The Board of Supervisors met Tuesday morning after hearing comments and concerns. The supervisors passed the first reading of an ordinance restricting turbines unanimously.
”In my estimate, the whole basis for the industry as it exists today is a political push adopted by “big government” intending to fight “climate change” by removing carbon fuels from the economy,” said Jack Seward Jr, Washington County Supervisor.
“They talk about green energy and I don’t think it’s as environmentally friendly as what they’re built to be,” said Bob Yoder, Washington County Supervisor.
The ordinance needs supervisors two vote for it twice more before it passes.
”I’m looking forward to hearing from the people and let- the people that want these, they still have to provide a reasonable reason why we should discriminate other folks that don’t have a seat at the table,” said Marcus Fedler, Washington County Supervisor.
The proposed ordinance states, “The purpose of this Ordinance shall be to promote the public health, safety, comfort and general welfare, while facilitating economic opportunities for rural residents.”
”If I’m sitting on my property and I’m looking out my window and I see a wind turbine, spinning in the distance, is that something I want to see?” Fedler said. “More importantly, it gives them a set of rules these corporations can work under.“
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