Do Increased Setbacks Prohibit Wind Farms in Jefferson County?

By Gordon HopkinsWill a one-mile setback make wind farms in Jefferson County impracticable or even impossible? That question has been hotly debated for the last year as the county considers setting new regulations governing the placement of wind turbines.At a special meeting on Thursday, January 26, the Jefferson County's Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Committee voted to increase the recommended setback for the placing to wind turbines one mile.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.The setbacks passed with a five to four vote.NextEra Energy, the company behind an existing wind farm in the county, Steele Flats, as well as a proposed future farm, Big Blue Wind, had previously recommended three times the system height and has also expressed the opinion that a mile setback would effectively prohibit wind farms in the county.John McKee, P&Z Administrator, created some maps of Steele Flats, showing the different hypothetical setbacks; three times, five times and one mile. McKee used 600 feet as a the height of the hypothetical wind turbines.Matthew Jones, Project Director, Development for NextEra, told the committee that, had a one-mile setback been the standard when the existing wind farm was going up, “That would wipe out all but six turbines in Steele Flats. Of the 44 turbines we built, only six could be built with that.”Others have disputed that claim. Attorney, Gregory Kratz, said at a prior meeting on January 12 of this year, “They (NextEra) might say all these areas are going to be excluded if it's, you know, a one mile setback from residences. That's just not the case. It's not excluded. They may not be able to site, you know, 100 turbines in the area, but they may be able to work with one another to get, you know, one of those, a few of them here, a few of them there.”Kratz said, “It's not going to eliminate the possibility of any wind turbines or wind farms going up at all.”Kratz has not indicated if he is representing himself or if he has a client.Another meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m.

House Fire at 712 Road, South of Jansen

Marjorie Mooberry

Related Articles

Truckers Are Not Using New Endicott Clay Road

Comprehensive Youth Services Plan Reveals Worsening Mental Health Crisis

Governor Previews Legislative Priorities

Kevin Johnson Is December Veteran Of The Month