Board updates wind turbine regulations

The Winnebago County Board updated the county's 2-year-old wind turbine regulations Thursday after rehashing some familiar debates.

Board members questioned a proposal that would require turbine operators to provide a letter of
credit that would cover the cost of decommissioning turbines no longer in use. The board also debated whether wind farms should be allowed on agricultural land without special-use permits approved by the board.

Under rules the board approved Thursday 24-4, a wind turbine operator must obtain a letter of credit equal to the decommission costs to pay for the removal of turbines no longer in use.

Board member Steve Schultz proposed requiring wind farm operators to first obtain County Board approval for turbines. Currently, applicants need only obtain approval from county staff in addition to clearing any necessary environmental hurdles. Shultz's proposal failed.

"By making this a special use we would allow folks to have that voice (in a public hearing), where as a permitted use does not allow for that," Schultz said.

The County Board adopted rules governing the establishment of wind farms in October 2009, after Minnesota-based Navitas Energy began studying a potential wind farm near Seward. A landowner then sued the county, claiming administrators, among other things, failed to properly notify her of the approval process for the wind farm. The lawsuit is pending.