Adams County still holds off on wind decisions

CORNING — Adams County Board of Supervisors again did not take any action on its wind turbine ordinance during its regularly scheduled meeting Monday.

The board also did not act when it discussed the ordinance in late June.

Discussion Monday did include details about setbacks and the maximum number of turbines to be allowed in the county. Setbacks are the allowed distance between a wind turbine and property, like a house.

The board had a consensus for setback of two times the height of the turbine for non-participating residents. The height of the turbine includes the blade length. and 1.5 times for conservation property, cemeteries and property lines. The setbacks were agreed at 1,800 feet from an inhabited structure.

Adams County already has 121 turbines. Supervisors had a consensus of maxing the amoung to 225. The county is also favoring requiring aircraft detection lighting systems on all new turbines. The warning lights would only be activated when airplane is in a designated area of the turbine. The lights are not intended for commercial aircraft. Supervisors are also interested in limiting shadow flicker on non-participating properties to 30 hours a year. Shadow flicker is the shadows created by the tower and the blades as they turn.

Having a maximum volume level of 55 decibels is also being considered. That level is considered a normal conversation between two people. Supervisors were cautious wondering how that would be enforced and knowing some agricultural operations also create noise.

Resident Juli Cooper said the jobs and economic growth related to the wind turbines has not met as it was explained. She claims not every wind turbine was erected as stated, falling short of the estimated amount of related revenue for the county.

In a related issue, Jeanne Jackson submitted a petition signed by 323 residents to decrease the board of supervisors from five members to three. The proposal would need voter approval.