Pulaski County’s proposed wind turbine ban took another step forward Monday. The advisory plan commission voted to accept the list of suggested amendments that the county commissioners sent back in response to its initial recommendation.
The new language adds some conditions. It limits the ban to commercial wind energy convergence systems, while allowing landowners to build noncommercial and micro wind turbines in certain circumstances, specifying rules depending on the structure’s size. At the same time, the changes also attempt to provide more legal justification for banning commercial wind farms, such as potential impacts on “the health, safety, and general welfare” of Pulaski County residents, along with property values.
At this point in the process, the plan commission’s only options were to accept or deny the commissioners’ recommendations. There were a few minor concerns about specific language during Monday’s meeting. Plan Commission President Jim Thompson said one resident was worried about the the lack of restriction on micro wind turbines and the impact they might have on birds near the Winamac Fish and Wildlife Area. Meanwhile, Building Inspector and Plan Administrator Doug Hoover wanted to be sure that commercial an noncommercial wind turbines were defined properly.
But without the option to amend the document further, the plan commission generally felt the language presented was good enough. The new wind turbine language now heads back to the county commissioners for final approval.
