Woodbury County — The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors is moving forward with an updated ordinance requiring far more distance between wind turbines and residences.
It’s a move that MidAmerican Energy says will likely derail its plan to build a wind farm in Woodbury County. Daniel Hair of Hornick says the wind farm would be disruptive. He led a petition drive that more than 700 county residents signed asking supervisors to change the ordinance.
“I’m a fifth generation farmer, and my young son at home who’s five is going to be the sixth and I’m asking you guys: don’t destroy this county for my lifetime and his,” Hair said. “Money is not everything.”
Last year, Woodbury County supervisors voted to require at least 12 hundred 50 feet of separation between a residence and a wind turbine. The new proposal would require 25 hundred feet. Brenda Holtz is one of a few landowners who spoke at August ninth’s public hearing in opposition to the change. She says it takes away property owners’ ability to decide what to do with their land.
MidAmerican’s Siouxland Wind Farm would have up to 90 turbines and the company says 60 landowners already have agreements. MidAmerican estimates it would pay Woodbury County about 150 million dollars in taxes and has already invested one-point-four million dollars in the project. The board will hold two more public hearings before taking a final vote on its wind ordinance change.
