“I think more harm will be visited on the residents than for the welfare of the county as a whole,” he said. “I salute NextEra for proposing a grand project. It’s a dandy project in the wrong place. Three-fourths of the county would be a better place than this location.”

Zoning/Planning Kansas

Speakers addressed possible mechanical failures with wind turbines; noise; “shadow flickers” from turbine blades and other health effects; karst geology in the bluffs; other environmental issues such as wildlife and groundwater; property values; roads and other infrastructure; and “setbacks,” the required distances between turbines and homes, other structures and roadways. “There are too many what-ifs (with the current ordinance) to protect the taxpayers and the residents of our county,” said Rich Harsey, 47, of rural Waterloo.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

A proposal to build a 100-tower wind farm in the southern portion of the county will be taken up by the county planning and zoning board April 25.

Zoning/Planning Minnesota

The planning commission pointed to the code compliance section of the Pegasus SLUP application as the main reason for revocation. The section reads: “The Pegasus Wind Energy Center will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and will obtain all required federal, state, and local approvals, licenses, permits or variances for the proposed wind project prior to the date of construction. ...Despite a portion of the section stating that NextEra would not begin construction until it retains all applicable permits, the Pegasus Project has begun with the construction of base supports as well as roads to the supports.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

“We increased the setbacks to 2,000 feet (from 750 feet) from property lines. We indicate there should be zero shadow flicker on peoples’ property, unless they want to participate...and we also lowered the sound level,” he said.

Zoning/Planning Michigan

Sweeping distance rules for onshore wind could further reduce already scarce land resources and impede reaching the wind expansion necessary for Germany’s renewable energy targets, a new study by the country’s environmental agency (UBA) found.

Zoning/Planning Germany

A proposed wind farm project drew more objections Monday as 14 people showed up at county commission meeting to be heard.

Zoning/Planning Kansas

In mid-April, perhaps mid-May, a Town Board controlled by the anti-windmill bloc is poised to approve what former Town Supervisor Nick Palevsky and other people interviewed see as a restrictive code that promotes farming, single-family homes and “agri-tourism,” and prohibits windmills of the kind Monticello Hills proposed, and limits business generally.

Zoning/Planning New York

Lancaster County will still have the most stringent setbacks for wind farms of any county in the state, but they will now be a little less stringent.

Zoning/Planning Nebraska

The law, if passed, would limit turbine height for projects that would generate more than 100 kilowatts of electricity to 400 feet. Developers would also have to erect turbines and components away from property lines, structures and roads at a distance of five times their height. The law also requires developers not to locate their facilities in areas that would produce electromagnetic interference with radar and various communication technologies.

Zoning/Planning New York

The law, if passed, would limit turbine height for projects that would generate more than 100 kilowatts of electricity to 400 feet. Developers would also have to erect turbines and components away from property lines, structures and roads at a distance of five times their height. The law also requires developers not to locate their facilities in areas that would produce electromagnetic interference with radar and various communication technologies.

Zoning/Planning New York

Crystal Avenue residents have denounced the proposed wind turbines as an eyesore which would sink their property values and flicker shadows into their homes. They also have expressed concerns that the wind turbines would harm their health.

Zoning/Planning Ohio

The DeWitt County Zoning Board of Appeals voted to recommend the DeWitt County Board reject the proposal of Tradewind Energy's Alta Farms II Wind Project in the northwest corner of DeWitt County at a special meeting of the ZBA at Clinton High School Tuesday night.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

Members of the DeWitt County Board will be in the hot seat next month after the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) voted Tuesday to recommend the county deny a special use permit for the Alta Farms wind energy project. The ZBA voted 5-1 to send the matter to the full board for final consideration with a recommendation to not grant the permit.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

Some Douglas County residents will travel to Springfield on Thursday in hopes of testifying about proposed legislation clarifying zoning rules concerning wind farms. Specifically, the bill aims to officially establish that county wind-farm regulations would supersede township rules even in counties that have no zoning regulations.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to ban “utility-oriented renewable energy” in fourteen communities and in “rural living zoning districts” throughout the county. What the board has designated as “community-oriented renewable energy” (CORE), will be allowed.

Zoning/Planning California

Vest said his goal from the beginning has been to allow for development of the wind energy project while providing as much protection as possible for those who don’t want turbines next door. "I am trying to find that balance," he said. 

Zoning/Planning Nebraska

Vest, who wants to find a compromise on the county setback rule, which at 1 mile is among the most stringent in the state, then asked the board to put the issue on the March 19 board agenda.

Zoning/Planning Nebraska

The Jasper County Plan Commission OK’d a draft Monday of the solar power amendment for the county’s Unified Development Ordinance. Members of county government have also confirmed that a committee will be discussing wind turbine setback regulations in the near future.

Zoning/Planning Indiana

Wind energy developers in Lancaster County will be required to place turbines at least 1 mile from any home that is not being paid to participate in the project. The 1-mile rule, the strictest in the state, will give homeowners some comfort and protect the quality of life in rural areas, said County Commissioner Deb Schorr.

Zoning/Planning Nebraska