The Council Bluffs City Council said “no” to wind energy – at least for now.

The majority of the City Council Monday evening voted against an ordinance that would have allowed wind energy conversion systems, particularly those windmill-like structures that people see out in the countryside.

It was the third reading of the ordinance, making it official.

According to the ordinance, a wind energy conversion system is defined as any device, such as a wind turbine and tower, wind charger, windmill and associated control or conversion electronics, which converts wind energy to a form of usable energy.

Council members Lynne Branigan, Matt Walsh and Matt Schultz voted in favor of prohibiting the use of wind energy, while Darren Bates and Scott Belt voted in support of it.

Walsh has said that the towers needed to capture the wind would be at least 150 feet high and would create a humming noise that could be irritating to neighbors.

Allowing wind energy would encourage businesses to locate here, Bates said, especially with tax incentives available for using that kind of energy.

“To me, it’s a sign of progress,” he said.

Improved technology will make wind energy towers look more like flagpoles or cell phone towers, he added.

“If we ban technology, other communities in the area will take advantage of that,” Bates said. “I want to promote here. I want to promote Council Bluffs as a progressive community. I don’t think it sends the right message.”

Belt agreed.

“It’s the wrong message to send out,” he said.

Schultz said he’s heard conflicting stories on this technology and requested a committee be formed to study all forms of green energy.

“I would like to have a committee see what’s valid and what’s not,” he said.

After the meeting, Mayor Tom Hanafan said he would create a citizens committee to study “all aspects of green” and report back to the council at a later date.