Boone County commissioners approve wind farm regulations

Boone County Commissioners adopted regulations for wind farm developments, which some considered a win while others did not. 

COLUMBIA — Boone County Commissioners adopted regulations for wind farm developments, which some considered a win while others did not.

The commission held several meetings over the summer about wind farms, seeking public input.

Director of Resource Management for Boone County Bill Florea said the drafting of the guidelines was extensive.

“I think we’ve found a set of regulations that allows wind farms to be developed in the county that meets the expectations of the citizens in terms of environmental protection and protection of private property values that could be impacted by wind farm development," Florea said.

Wind farms have been a controversial issue in Boone County for the past two years.

Executive Director of Renew Missouri James Owen said the proposed regulations act more as a ban on wind development and generation.

For example, Owen said the regulations limit the height of wind turbines to under 375 feet. Owen noted there are no wind turbines in the country that are that short and said wind turbines should be at least 400 feet tall. He also took issue with the setback rule.

“When you look at a provision of it that says you cannot have a wind turbine sited within 1,750 feet away from a property line, not a house, not a residence but from a property line. If you look at a map of Boone County, there is nowhere where more than one turbine can be [built] anywhere," Owen said.

He added he is not against wind regulations but said the rules the commission adopted are not fair.

Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill said the wind farm regulations were a good compromise.

“I think that we have reasonable regulations, and it’s not what the industry would like, I’m sure, but it’s not what some people who would be affected by it would like either, and so it’s a compromise," he said.

Atwill noted they wanted to create guidelines that would allow the development of wind farms while giving a voice to people who would be affected by wind farm developments.

“We approached it from the standpoint that creating regulations would allow wind farms, but also as I said, require the participation of the people who would be affected," he said.

However, Owen said the regulations make it impossible for wind farms to be developed in the county and set a bad example of wind farm regulation.

“This is going to set a precedent for other counties. They're going to be able to say, Woah, we’re not banning wind, we’re just going to have it set up where nothing can be built where no turbine other than just having one turbine in the middle of the field is going to be it, and that’s what we’re doing here, and that’s what we’ve done here," Owen said,