http://www.windaction.org/ facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts en-us Windaction hourly 1 http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.windaction.org/articles/31630 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:59:08 GMT "It says do not stay within a radius of 1,300 feet from the turbine unless it is necessary," he said. "This is from a manufacturer of a wind turbine that is now operating across the world. http://www.windaction.org/articles/31630 http://www.windaction.org/articles/31351 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 15:33:03 GMT The agenda for Monday's 6:45 p.m. meeting includes a recommendation from the Ellis County Joint Planning Commission that would change the required setback distance from 10-times-the-tip-height to 1,000 feet and eliminate regulations for noise levels. http://www.windaction.org/articles/31351 http://www.windaction.org/articles/30894 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:29:08 GMT A packed room gave the Ellis County Joint Planning Commission a resounding round of applause Tuesday night after the commission voted 5-2 to recommend changes to the wind energy zoning regulations to the Ellis County Commission. ...The zoning commission recommended changing the current 10 times the tip height of the wind turbine setback to 1,000 feet and a noise decibel regulation of 50 decibels. http://www.windaction.org/articles/30894 http://www.windaction.org/articles/30843 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 17:05:54 GMT One of Ellis County's most talked about topics during the past few years will be in the spotlight once again on Tuesday night. During the monthly Ellis County Joint Planning Commission meeting at 7 p.m., committee members will host a public hearing on changes to the county's wind energy zoning regulations that were proposed by Mark Bannister of Butterfield Wind during the committee's December meeting. http://www.windaction.org/articles/30843 http://www.windaction.org/articles/29376 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:02:22 GMT Commissioners agreed Monday that Campbell was not an aggrieved party and therefore his appeal was not valid. "I tend to agree that he is not an aggrieved person," Commission Chairman Perry Henman said. "He doesn't have any property in the project." http://www.windaction.org/articles/29376 http://www.windaction.org/articles/29018 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:05:19 GMT Invenergy project manager Will Furgeson said while he continues to pursue a proposed project in northern Ellis County, the increased setbacks adopted Monday have caused concern about creating a viable project in the county. ...Along with increased setbacks, the amended regulations call for a standard for noise in wind projects not to exceed 40 decibels. http://www.windaction.org/articles/29018 http://www.windaction.org/articles/27274 Thu, 13 May 2010 16:43:21 GMT While the Crawford County Joint Board of Zoning Appeals had already heard a case for a height variance for a private wind turbine, Zoning Administrator Judy Freeman said that guidelines may have to be augmented. Freeman said that current county zoning regulations do not address the construction of wind turbines, whether on a farm or just a single-use. http://www.windaction.org/articles/27274 http://www.windaction.org/articles/26862 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:34:51 GMT Currently, Hays regulations do not allow wind turbines taller than 125 feet within three miles of city limits. The FHSU wind turbines would be built in a large field area used for agricultural studies. http://www.windaction.org/articles/26862 http://www.windaction.org/articles/26831 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:03:00 GMT Differing from a suggestion submitted by the Ellis County Joint Planning Commission last month, Commissioner Perry Henman proposed a 10-times-the-tip-height setback from rural dwellings in order to eliminate the need for noise regulations in wind energy conversion systems. "If we do that, I would be satisfied if the county didn't regulate noise," Henman said. http://www.windaction.org/articles/26831 http://www.windaction.org/articles/26418 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:33:37 GMT The commission agreed to recommend a setback from wind turbines of 1,000 feet from participating residences and 2,000 feet from non-participating residences near a wind project. The latter differed from a recommendation by county commissioner Glenn Diehl, who had suggested a 1-mile setback. "I understand trying to protect residences," Planning Commission Chairman Bill Poland said. "I think we can come to a compromise. http://www.windaction.org/articles/26418 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23831 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:35:31 GMT After months of information gathering, Ellis County commissioners revisited proposed changes to the county's zoning regulations during Monday's meeting. However, they still took no action on the changes. Specifically, commissioners discussed proposed changes to setback requirements and noise standards in the regulations. Commissioner Glenn Diehl said he wants to protect platted, multiple-lot developments in the county the most. He proposed a 1.5-mile setback for wind turbine location from those areas. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23831 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23265 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:17:26 GMT A project to put up a wind turbine at Hope Street Academy generated a civics lesson for students there, five of whom asked the city's governing body Tuesday evening to allow small wind energy systems to operate in Topeka for nonresidential purposes. The governing body, which includes the city council and Mayor Bill Bunten, subsequently voted 10-0 to approve an ordinance making that move and a companion measure requiring users of wind energy systems to acquire a conditional-use permit from the governing body. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23265 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21851 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:54:41 GMT The topic of wind turbines came to the commissioners after the Leavenworth County Planning Commission decided that the Obergs needed a special use permit in order to install the turbine. Along with the special use permit were proposed amendments in planning regulations that would establish rules for wind turbines. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21851 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21409 Sun, 31 May 2009 17:24:54 GMT Two of the primary issues that have held back development of home or community-based turbines, industry experts say, are cost and regulation. Recent legislation has addressed each in part, but barriers remain. ..."We like the thoughts of wind turbines, but are opposed to law," said Bob Hall, manager of Ark Valley Electric Cooperative, saying it's unfair to the majority of its member customers and unreliable as an energy source. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21409 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20662 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:03:46 GMT Ellis County Commission Chairman Perry Henman doesn't deny he has been in contact with wind developers in Ellis County. But one county resident believes the activity has been "very prejudicial" and makes it look as though Henman is "asking for a special favor." ...Invenergy Project Manager Will Furgeson said his "abstract" conversation with Henman occurred more than a month ago. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20662 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20525 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:33:07 GMT At Thursday's Hays City Commission meeting, commissioners approved an ordinance regulating wind energy development. The ordinance allows turbines with a maximum height of 125 feet within the 3-mile radius. However, this provision could delay Fort Hays State University's plans to develop a 5-megawatt project on state-owned land near the edge of the city-governed 3-mile zoning area. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20525 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20264 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:01:17 GMT At Thursday's 5:30 p.m. Hays City Commission work session, commissioners will consider approving an ordinance regulating wind energy development. The drafted zoning regulations have been submitted by the Hays Area Planning Commission, which has been working on the document since last April. A current moratorium on wind energy development was established to give the planning commission time to develop the regulations. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20264 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20152 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:28:21 GMT After nearly a year's work, the Hays Area Planning Commission recommended approval of its drafted wind energy regulations in a 6-0 vote Monday evening. The document will proceed to the Hays City Commission for discussion at the March 5 work session. ...The regulations also state that no turbine taller than 125 feet would be allowed within city limits, which includes the 3-mile zone. In residential zoned districts, maximum tower height would be 45 feet. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20152 http://www.windaction.org/articles/19805 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:59:34 GMT Ellis County commissioners discussed the possibility of implementing a moratorium on wind development in the county again Monday. Commissioner Glenn Diehl reiterated he would not support a long-term moratorium. "There's no way I'm going to impact any ... future projects," Diehl said. "It would have to be extremely short-term if we decide on one -- less than six months." http://www.windaction.org/articles/19805 http://www.windaction.org/articles/19806 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:59:34 GMT Two Kansas House of Representative bills being heard in the committee on energy and utilities have sparked opposition by local government officials. House bills 2043 and 2051, dealing with the regulation of wind and solar energy, would allow developers to build renewable energy plants without regard for already-established local zoning regulations. http://www.windaction.org/articles/19806