CORNING — Adams County Board of Supervisors Sept. 16 approved to waive a second and third readings of revisions to the county’s wind turbine ordinance. Supervisors then voted to approve the revised ordinance.
Supervisor Chris Standley voted no on both motions; to waive second and third readings and to approve the ordinance. Standley referred to past comments from county residents who are disappointed in the revisions. He also explained a resident, who he did not name, and has wind turbines but was unsure how close he would want one to his own residence, but speculated the person had no concern of having one close to another’s residence.
“He wouldn’t do it to his,” Standley said.
“I feel like we could do better on the ordinance if 50 % want something greater than what we have, if that is true number. I feel like we could do better on this,” Standley said.
During a Sept. 9 public hearing, supervisors considered scheduling a second public hearing to be held during and evening for better audience attendance.
Supervisors held a public hearing Sept. 9 about its proposed revisions to its wind turbine ordinance. The details and proposals were reviewed for previous months. Supervisors did not take any formal action on the ordinance itself.
A majority of the comments were critical of wind turbines.
Adams County resident Lynn Irr said she has lived in the county since 1991 to raise a family.
“I would not have made same decision today based on direction of the county,” she said. “We loved it here, our home, and liked to have died there. We have invested in 17 acres as we could afford. We loved the land. We loved ag,” she said. “The county is not on path in line with what we want for our future, we’ve made painful and difficult decision to leave our homestead where our future is more predictable. We’ve made our choice.”
Rex Johnson used a traffic light analogy for his comments.
“We had a green light that allowed 121 turbines. Now the yellow light is on. Time to get ready to stop, which is the red light,” he said.
He hopes the county will consider all the negatives explained.
“I’m guessing they are tired of the big corporations taking advantage of farms, land, rural lifestyle. I don’t enjoy looking at these things driving down the road. There is more to life than money, we are not taking any of it with us.”
Johnson referred to spring storm damaged turbines where debris may still be found today even after the turbine was removed, potentially hampering farm operations.
A MidAmerican representative explained how the company is not in favor of the maximum number of turbines proposed for the county or the height limits. Supervisors have 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 have a consensus of a maximum amount of 225.
Ray Gaesser said the turbines have benefits.
“It keeps taxes reasonable, invest in schools, public things, things we really need come from property tax that wind turbines can help us alleviate and solve some of the issues,” he said. “Change is hard. We need to adapt to change.”
Kurt Brandt said he has turbines since 2016 and has had no detrimental impact on his land values.
He explained how a land purchase in 1992 was $750 an acre. In 2010, he paid $2,250. He sold 80 acres to a family member in 2018 at a price of $6,000 an acre.
“My farm value since turbines is valued at $8,000. If you want to tell me land prices go down (because of turbines), you’re wrong.”
Brandt also explained how he was pleased how the companies behind the turbines responded when he had lightning damage.
“Months ago I put out an open invitation to anybody who wanted to come to my farm and be around the turbines. Not one person showed up. Half you people are judging things you know nothing about. All you’ve done is read things that are printed by people who are against them.”
Dallas Johnston said the county officials are not listening to the majority of the people.
“You don’t care what everybody says. Everything been done shows the majority of people of Adams County do not want any further turbine expansion. There’s money on the table. I get that. But at what price do you get more money?”
Invenergy Project Developer Steve Morris, a wind turbine company, said there are 62 families who have approved easements to allow turbines. He said about 18,000 acres are involved.
“I largely believe the ordinance is fair and balanced,” he said,.