County begins zoning process for potential wind energy sites

Custer County officials hope to have regulations in place by May that will govern the development of wind generation facilities in the county.

The county's planning commission will have its first meeting regarding the topic Wednesday, Jan. 14.

"We're just getting started," said the county's zoning administrator, Larry Gibbons.

Some members of the commission planned to visit Ainsworth Wind Energy Facility south of Ainsworth this week.

The work was spurred by Nebraska Public Power District's call for proposals for wind generation projects within 15 miles of Broken Bow.

NPPD announced its request for proposals in November. Proposals are due by April.

Currently, there are no zoning regulations in Custer County that specifically address wind generation facilities, according to Larry Gibbons.

"As far as timing, we're OK," Gibbons said. "We'll have to move quickly and still do a thorough job."

Currently, Gibbons and other Custer County officials are taking a close look at the regulations defined by Madison County, in northwest Nebraska.

"Those are pretty much the regulations all the counties are using," Gibbons said.

While the Madison County regulations are a starting point, Gibbons said the commission wants public feedback before the Custer County regulations are written.

"Anybody that has input should come out and let us know," he said. "The more public input, the better."

That's a welcome attitude for landowners like Ed and Maxine Wehling, who have concerns that the regulations customary in Nebraska may not provide enough protection for residences.

"I think we're fortunate," Ed Wehling said. "I'm impressed with our zoning commission."

The Wehlings live near a potential wind facility on the Merna Table, west of Broken Bow.

BP Energies has lease agreements with landowners in that area. Another company, Wind Row Energies, has indicated it will propose a facility on property east of Broken Bow, where NPPD has contract agreements with landowners.

Gibbons said currently, those are the only two developers he is aware intend to submit proposals to NPPD.

Wehling said he and his wife began researching the impact of wind facilities when they were approached to lease property for transmission lines.

"The project basically surrounds our property," Wehling said.

The couple has researched the Nebraska regulations, as well as regulations in other states that address wind energy facilities. Typical zoning in Nebraska calls for a 1,000-foot setback from roads, rights of way and residences.

"One thousand feet sounds like a lot," Wehling said, "but we've learned from people who live near wind facilities in other states that it's too close."

At a December meeting hosted by NPPD, Maxine Wehling mentioned that newer regulations in other states call for setbacks of 2,600 feet.

Wehling said residents near wind energy facilities report concerns with noise, shadows and ice that is shed from rotor blades.

"There are things that common sense says should be considered near roads and houses," he said.

One concern is the strobe effect that occurs when the sun is horizontal to the rotor blades. The situation causes repetitive intermittent shadows that can affect people on nearby property or roads, Wehling said.

Wehling said they are appreciative of the work that will be done by Custer County's planning commission.

"We really have to commend Larry and the zoning commission," Wehling said. "They're not just trying to get it off their plate, they're really researching it."

Gibbons said he thinks there will be public input, but doesn't expect crafting the regulations to be difficult.

"I don't think it's going to be too controversial," Gibbons said. "There are some details people want to have input in, but I don't think it's going to be too bad."