Howard County approves first wind farm ordinance

ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com

Howard County could be the site of a $200 million wind farm in the next three years.

The Howard County Plan Commission Tuesday approved the county's first wind ordinance.

The Howard County commissioners must approve the ordinance before it takes effect. That approval is expected at the June 1 meeting.

Two crucial amendments to the proposed wind ordinance were approved by plan commission members.

One amendment removed the requirement that a special exception be obtained for the development of a wind farm, according to James Papacek, president of the plan commission.

Papacek said a second amendment eliminated the 500-foot setback from county roads.

"We dropped the 500-foot setback," he said. "Other counties with a wind ordinance didn't have that requirement."

Papacek said the two companies looking at developing wind farms in Howard County were satisfied with the ordinance as approved.

Paul Cummings, project manager for Horizon Wind Energy, said Thursday the company was comfortable with the ordinance.

"It made it possible to do the project in the county," he said.

Horizon Wind Energy is looking to develop a wind farm in eastern Howard County and western Grant County.

"The two counties have similar ordinances," Cummings said. "We always looked at the project being done in two phases."

Horizon Energy is currently monitoring wind conditions east of Greentown.

Cummings said the monitoring would take place for one year because of changing conditions.

"We're looking at 2011 or beyond to start the project," he said. "Probably 2012."

Cummings said tentative plans call for 100 megawatts of electricity being generated in Howard County. He said there would be at least 50 to 75 wind turbines in the county and a similar number in Grant County.

He said construction has begun on the erecting of wind turbines in White County for the placement of 600 turbines over the next five years.

The company is looking at 10,000 to 15,000 acres east of Greentown to be used for a wind farm.

Approximately 1 acre of farm ground is needed for each tower and farming operations could continue around the towers.