State mandate for wind power divides rural county

The state’s mandate to develop ever more wind energy to offset the loss of traditional power plants shut down by climate change zealots has fueled resentment among some residents of rural Swift County. County commissioners recently wrestled with the second proposal to come before the board calling for the suspension of wind power development in the last four months.

The issue resurfaced in the context of a sizable wind farm project being proposed by Apex Clean Energy, according to the West Central Tribune.

A motion by Commissioner Larry Mahoney, of Appleton, calling for a moratorium of up to one year, failed to get a second and died as a result. The commissioner offered the motion Tuesday after about two dozen people attended the commissioners’ meeting. Eight offered comments, some favoring and some opposing a moratorium.

The commissioners previously rejected calls for a wind power moratorium in May. They chose instead to appoint a renewable energy committee to review the county’s nearly two-decade-old ordinance for wind and solar power. That committee has met twice, and will continue to meet, but is not under a specified timeline to make any recommendations, according to information at the meeting.

Despite the renewable energy review underway, however, more than 400 county residents signed a petition calling on the board to suspend development.

He [Commissioner Mahoney] said the county’s environmental services director advised the commissioners last spring that “wind can divide a community, and it has.”

Marilyn Anderson, of Appleton, was among the citizens asking for a moratorium.

“We know the turbines are coming, but we don’t want them on our front steps,” she said.

A moratorium would give the county time to look at revising setback regulations to protect residents and landowners, she and others told the commissioners.

Those in favor of more wind power production in the county pointed out the economic benefits to landowners and taxpayers. There’s also a question of how much legal clout a moratorium would wield given the state role in issuing permits.

Bonita Ascheman, of Holloway, was among those who spoke against a moratorium. She said people who signed the petition asking for a moratorium were not informed or aware that the county already has a committee looking at possible changes. She said the negativity about wind power has been “unfair and dangerous” for the county.

Dan Smith, also of Holloway, said wind power represents an important opportunity for economic development in the county.

Regardless of their views, it’s clear the commissioners and residents in the room agreed on one thing. The state’s insatiable drive to develop more wind energy has become a divisive issue in farm country.

“Very contentious, we understand that,” Commissioner Gary Hendrickx, of Appleton, said of the wind power issue in the county. He thanked those who offered views on both sides, and said the county will “do our due diligence” in reviewing its ordinances.