Big Win for Wind Energy Opponents

By Gordon HopkinsAfter nearly two years of debate, Jefferson County Commissioners set new regulations for wind turbine permits after a public hearing the evening of Thursday, March 23, held at the 4-H Building of the Jefferson County fairgrounds. A one-mile setback, was passed unanimously by the commissioners, despite the argument by a number of wind energy supporters that such a setback would make wind farms effectively unfeasible in the county.The Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Committee recommended significantly increasing the setbacks for the placing of wind turbines to one mile (5,280 feet). The setback established is measured from the wind turbine to a non-participating landowner's exterior wall. P&Z also recommended a 1/2 mile setback to the property line of a non-participating landowner's property and a one-mile setback to schools, churches, incorporated communities and state owned recreational areas, such as Rock Creek Station and Alexandria State Park. All three commissioners emphasized the difficulty of the decision. Michael Dux said, “The number one comment I was told (by constituents) was, 'I'm sure glad I'm not one of you three.' And this is a tough, tough decision. I think all three of us lost some sleep on it.”Commissioner Mark Schoenrock said, “We recognize that there are very strong feelings on both sides of this issue. This EU has the potential to be very divisive for our county. Unfortunately, the three of us are already aware that this issue has divided neighbors, it's divided friends, it’s divided families. Please do not let that happen. We are friends and neighbors and we're privileged to live in this beautiful county in southeast Nebraska. Like many of you here, family roots in Jefferson County of us three commissioners go very deep.” The hearing was held prior to the vote to give the public one last opportunity to give input. There were over 150 people in attendance and 31 spoke. Speakers were each given two minutes.The other regulations under consideration were decommissioning and shadow flicker.Shadow flicker is the result of a moving shadow caused by the rotating turbine blades. Commissioners voted to recommend a limit of 30 hours of shadow flicker per year on a non-participating residence.After some tweaking of the language, commissioners also voted for a decommissioning plan for every turbine to ensure sufficient funds for removal of every wind turbine.Commissioners also proposed a new regulation requiring $10,000 to be placed into and escrow to fund investigation of complaints regarding regulation violations. The county will notify applicants if an account falls below $5,000 and the applicant then has 45 days to replenish the account.A moratorium on wind turbine permits has been in place for well over a year while regulations were reviewed. Commissioners indicated that they would likely terminate the moratorium at their next meeting on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

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