Changes are on the horizon in Tippecanoe County; wind turbines could soon be constructed in the area. The Commissioners approved two amended ordinances Monday that laid the ground work for wind turbines and wind farms in Tippecanoe County. ...some Tippecanoe County residents are still against the idea of having wind farms in their backyards.
Changes are on the horizon in Tippecanoe County; wind turbines could soon be constructed in the area. The Commissioners approved two amended ordinances Monday that laid the ground work for wind turbines and wind farms in Tippecanoe County. ...some Tippecanoe County residents are still against the idea of having wind farms in their backyards.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. - Changes are on the horizon in Tippecanoe County; wind turbines could soon be constructed in the area.
The Commissioners approved two amended ordinances Monday that laid the ground work for wind turbines and wind farms in Tippecanoe County.
"It's something that is definitely coming. It's going to change the horizon," said Commissioner Tom Murtaugh.
County Attorney Dave Luhman said the county made several changes to the previous ordinance, after a lot of comments and concerns from citizens.
"We clarified what the standards are going to be for noise limitations. Those would be reduced from the first reading ordinance from just a 55 decibel limit to 45 decibels at the nearest dwelling. Then 55 at the nearest …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. - Changes are on the horizon in Tippecanoe County; wind turbines could soon be constructed in the area.
The Commissioners approved two amended ordinances Monday that laid the ground work for wind turbines and wind farms in Tippecanoe County.
"It's something that is definitely coming. It's going to change the horizon," said Commissioner Tom Murtaugh.
County Attorney Dave Luhman said the county made several changes to the previous ordinance, after a lot of comments and concerns from citizens.
"We clarified what the standards are going to be for noise limitations. Those would be reduced from the first reading ordinance from just a 55 decibel limit to 45 decibels at the nearest dwelling. Then 55 at the nearest non-participating property owner's property line," said Luhman.
Another change deals with shadow flicker from the turbines.
"That's what occurs when the sun is low in the sky and it passes through where blades are turning and creates a flicker effect," said Luhman.
There was also a change to the fees required for small turbines, or Micro Wex turbines, built for personal use.
"We didn't want to have a fee structure for the inspection of Micro Wex systems that would be prohibitively expensive to keep someone from being able to install a small wind electricity generating system on their property," said Luhman.
Even so, some Tippecanoe County residents are still against the idea of having wind farms in their backyards.
"An 80 foot tower next door could fall on my house," one Tippecanoe County resident worried.
Several people are also concerned about one requirement that said a commercial wind turbine only has to be 1,000 feet away from another person's property line.
"I'm not opposed to windmills. All I want is a little distance: 1,000 feet is not enough," said Robert Brooks.
"We would like a 1/2 mile buffer from the property line of the house to where these towers will be built," said Kenny Byers.
"There are definite side effects, adverse health effects come when these aren't sited correctly," said Julie Peretin.
Despite the comments, all three commissioners gave the project the green light.
"I feel very comfortable and confident in what we did pass. I don't say it's going to be perfect or it is perfect but I know there is one company that is looking to come to our community and possibly filing permits this summer," said Commissioner David Byers.
Monday was the second reading of the wind farm ordinance, so it is now finalized. Byers said he thinks construction for a wind farm could begin as soon as this year.