Kearney County Planning and Zoning holds informational meeting regarding alternative energy, residents attend in droves 

The January 26 meeting of the Kearney County Planning and Zoning Commission regarding alternative energy drew the attention of several residents resulting in attendance numbers unseen in the recent past. The meeting venue was moved to the Kearney County Fairgrounds to accommodate the audience of over 150 citizens.

Board Chairperson Dawn Thompson called the meeting the order and explained how the meeting will be conducted so the public would know what to expect. She began by explaining this was an informational meeting only, not a public hearing, intended to educate the board and gather public input regarding alternative energy.

Thompson explained Kearney County currently has general regulations in place related to alternative energy, but with the increasing popularity of these kinds of projects across the state the board is reviewing those regulations and considering potential amendments while the current moratorium is in place.

She also explained how the planning commission operates. When a matter comes before the board for a formal public hearing, the board will take testimony and develop a recommendation. That recommendation is then forwarded to the County Commissioners for review. The commissioners will then make the final decision.

The meeting’s agenda included January business items, a presentation by guest speaker John Hay, and speaker Q&A from the board followed by public comment. With the introduction out of the way, the board quickly approved the minutes from the previous meeting and reorganized keeping officers the same as the previous year. This was followed by a presentation by UNL Extension Educator John Hay.

He began by acknowledging renewable energy is a controversial topic and explain- ing that is why it needs to be discussed. Hay explained the process of renewable energy projects. These projects require private developers to lease land and sell energy to public power entities. There are several drivers behind renewable energy projects with available subsidies being a large contributing factor.

Looking at the dedicated space required for these projects and impact on vegetation, Hay noted solar often affects 5-7 acres per 1MW of AC power produced while wind has an influence of 30-60 acres per 1MW of AC power produced despite taking up less physical space. Conversely, wind typically takes 3-9 months to provide a return on investment while solar is closer to 2-3 years.

In relation to water and wildlife concerns, renewable energy uses less water than nuclear and coal power options and there are no current findings of wind turbine construction having an impact on water quality. Solar has only a minimal impact on wildlife, but birds and mammals have been found to keep their distance from wind turbines and turbines can kill birds and bats.

While toxicity has been voiced as a concern, Hay noted studies have been completed that refute many of these arguments. The most concerning factor at this time is that turbine blades are not recyclable, but work is being done to try and find a way to recycle or repurpose the blades. Noise in relation to wind turbines has been noted as a problem, but the correlation is very subjective.

Renewable energy projects can have a negative impact on property values that is highly impacted by community acceptance and distance. The projects can also bring some tax dollars into the county. Decommissioning requirements should also be included in any regulations.

Hay concluded his presentation by inviting the public to email him at jhay2@unl.edu with any questions. The board asked a few questions about nuclear power, costs for renewable projects, financial benefits to landowners, and effects on vegetation. Once their questions were answered, the floor was opened to public comment.

Five individuals shared their thoughts and concerns mostly surrounding wind turbines. One community member encouraged the board to reference a resolution adopted by Buffalo County requiring stronger setbacks for turbines. Another citizen spoke to the impact turbines have on birds and noted Kearney County is in the central flyway for cranes. Yet another member of the public spoke against turbines noting the available subsidies are initiating interest in building them. He also noted solar panels require a lot of maintenance and are highly susceptible to Nebraska hailstorms.

Another community member asked the board to consider the risks and costs of renewable energy projects. His comments focused on emergency response and safety concerns. The final speaker addressed the audience calling for help to compose documents for opposing views to renewable energy projects to submit at the public hearing.

The meeting concluded with an invitation to the public to attend a public hearing on the matter on February 23 at 6pm at the fairgrounds. Anyone wishing to submit documents for the board’s consideration is encouraged to provide 12 copies.