The Grant County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to forward a resolution that would put a hold on any future wind farm projects in Grant County.
The matter must now go before the Grant County Area Plan Commission. Area Planning Director Steve Niblick said that, by state law, the commission must have a public hearing within 60 days of his receiving a copy of the resolution signed by the three county commissioners during their meeting Tuesday.
The Area Plan Commission will focus on four restrictions cited in the resolution, Niblick said: restrictions on setbacks from property lines, noise decibels, light flicker and light shields.
Despite the forward momentum, John Needler of Swayzee, who said he was speaking for “everyone” in southwestern Grant County, again criticized thecommissioners for giving E.On Climate and Renewables additional chances, especially in light of a company representative expected at last week’s Grant County Council meeting did not show up.
“It’s like you’re coddling E.ON, and I’m tired of it. The people are tired of it,” Needler said. “We want protection.”
Needler was one of two people who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Burton said he expects the county council to address the matter at its February meeting. Till then, commissioners say it remains to be seen what it could mean for Grant County. Whether E.ON wishes to move forward will be settled between the council and E.ON because the council is the county’s fiscal governing body.
The commissioners passed an amended economic development agreement with E.ON in December that involved renegotiated terms like setbacks, but the council failed to pass the agreement during its December meeting and postponed the matter when E.ON did not show up to the January meeting.
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