Uniformity requested for wind ordinance

Roger Vicker, representing Protect Our Land’s Future, asked Union County Board of Supervisors Monday if how wind turbines are measured can be more specifically defined in the county’s ordinance.

The comment came a week before the Union County Board of Supervisors will have a public hearing for 6 p.m., April 29 to revise the county’s decommissioning plan for its 34 wind turbines.

Vicker said the ordinance does not include the length of the blades as part of the total height of the tower. The height is based on the location of the nacelle, the piece at the top of the tower where the electricity is generated. Vicker said the difference in height between the two measuring points can be one-third the difference in measurement. Supervisors did not respond to his comment.

Vicker also said he was disappointed there was no reference to what is called “shadow flicker.” That is when the shadow of a wind turbine is visible on a residence and includes the shadow of the blades when the turbine is in operation. He suggested the ordinance include preventing shadow flicker and can be managed during those times.

Protect our Land’s Future is intended for Union County, Iowa, residents to learn about the impacts of wind and solar energy systems, property rights for all residents and advocates for the best interests of the future of Union County’s families, land and wildlife.

Next Monday’s public hearing emphasizes the decommissioning portion of the ordinance. Vicker has discussed wind turbine ordinance details with the supervisors in the past and suggested requiring an escrow account holding the full amount needed for decommission and dismantling of the turbines in the county.

The county’s ordinance states if a turbine is not productive for 180 days, the turbine will be considered abandoned. The owner can provide a plan to return it to production within the following 180 days.

Vicker explained how a court approved of wind turbines to be removed from tribal lands in Oklahoma. His concern was guaranteeing enough funds to be accessed to dismantle any turbine in Union County preventing additional expense to the county or its residents.

Colorado had a similar issue with oil and natural gas wells that were not producing knowing funding was needed to shut them off.

Vicker said with earlier discussions in Adams County and their wind turbines, what are the requirements to know a turbine has been shut off and qualifies for decommissioning. Vicker said he was informed by a wind turbine representative Adams County does not have to be notified. Vicker said the ordinance can include the length of time a turbine has been productive.

In November 2023 supervisors extended the suspension of new wind turbine permits until July 12. It had extended a suspension of permits beginning in March 2023 and lasting until December.

The abeyance started in March 2023, after supervisors were informed of proposed expansion of wind turbines in the county, mainly along the southern portion. Union County’s turbines are in the northwest corner of the county, since 2020. Friday said the county’s initial work on the ordinance started in 2018.

Since March last year, supervisors reviewed and compared ordinances from other counties that have turbines. Supervisors have reviewed setbacks which is the minimum distance a turbine must be from either a property, like a house or a property line. Supervisors have also heard from officials from the Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days held annually in September in Creston how additional turbines would impact the event. The event utilizes Creston’s airport located south of town.