Henderson County residents push for wind project delay

HENDERSON, Ky. — Henderson County residents rallied at a Henderson City-County Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2, urging a two-year moratorium on the proposed Rock Bluff Energy Park, a wind and solar project by Cordelio Power and Tenaska.

What You Need To Know

• On Sept. 2, locals urged a two-year moratorium on the Rock Bluff Energy Park at a Planning Commission meeting, citing property and safety concerns
• The 30,000-acre wind and solar project needs MISO, EPA and PSC approvals
• Residents have criticized transparency since 2022 and question county leadership
• Cordelio Power highlights landowner payments, jobs and tax revenue, while the Planning Commission recommends a two-year moratorium for study

The push follows a one-year wind energy moratorium approved by the Henderson County Fiscal Court in July, set to expire July 1, 2026, as residents like James Franks, a volunteer firefighter and contractor, voiced concerns over property values, public safety and distrust in county leadership.

The Rock Bluff project, which could span 30,000 acres in eastern Henderson County near Hebbardsville and Bluff City, includes plans for 90 to 100 wind turbines and solar installations on reclaimed coal mine land. It still requires approvals from the Midwestern Independent System Operator, the Environmental Protection Agency and Kentucky’s Public Service Commission.

Franks emphasized the threat to property values, citing existing solar projects in Robards.

“You have these generational homes, or maybe they’re first-time homebuyers that went in there and they bought them thinking that was their dream home. Now, if they decide to sell, they’re having a hard time selling. And now they can’t even go outside and enjoy anything because they have these prison-style fences with this horrible solar panel staring at them,” he said.

He also raised safety concerns about battery storage systems, particularly thermal runaways that could require evacuations in the Niagara area.

“In times of heavy rain, there’s 11 residents, such as myself, that are trapped. So if I’m the only first responder there with minimal expertise, there are zero fire personnel in the country that can extinguish one of these,” he said.

Franks urged a two-year moratorium to allow time for safer technology and better regulations.

“A moratorium is saying, hey, let’s hit the brakes and let’s study this thing. 24 months from now, we could have a safe, reasonable, thriving business, and the community could be safe,” he said.

He expressed skepticism about the county leadership’s priorities, stating, “A lot of eyes are on the fiscal court. They’re going to show who their alliances are truly with. They’re going to have to pick the private business or the people that they were elected to represent.”

Franks said that if property value and public safety can be protected, he doesn’t have a problem with wind turbines.

The Planning Commission voted to recommend a two-year wind moratorium, which could reach the Fiscal Court’s agenda soon, potentially taking effect after a second reading. 

Cordelio Power defended the project, with CEO John Carson noting economic benefits like landowner lease payments and job creation. 

“The county’s got a resource running right over it. It’s free. So that’s why, you know, the economic benefit is to the landowner and to the county and to us as a company who’s building it,” he said. “I think folks would be surprised how innocuous that they are.”

Residents also raised transparency concerns, alleging discussions with Cordelio began in 2022 without public knowledge. Public hearings will continue as the county weighs economic gains against community impacts.