Buffalo County sets new distancing requirements for possible wind farms

Energy companies will have to meet a new set of requirements if interested in building a wind farm in Buffalo County

Energy companies will have to meet a new set of requirements if interested in building a wind farm in Buffalo County.

The Buffalo County Commissioners voted unanimously last week to approve distancing rules that were recommended by the planning commission.

The rules say a wind farm can’t be located or expanded within:

three miles of agriculture residential zoned property,

three miles from any parcel owned by a non-applicant,

three miles of a church, hospital, pool or park,

five miles of any village or city,

two miles of a burial site, the Platte River and South Loup River areas or

five miles from a wildlife preservation or management area.

Companies were previously allowed to apply for a special use permit to build a wind farm in certain zoning districts, but there weren’t specific distancing requirements.

According to meeting minutes, the Planning Commission considered two proposals regarding wind farm regulations at its meeting on February 16.

One proposal was less restrictive and would have implemented one-mile setbacks.

The planning commission chose unanimously to recommend the more restrictive requirements that eventually passed through the board of commissioners.

Several people spoke in favor of the new requirements at both meetings. Nobody formally spoke against them or in favor of lighter restrictions.

Passing the requirements follows a recommendation in the county’s newly-passed comprehensive plan to re-evaluate special permit requirements for commercial wind and solar farms.

See more here newschannelnebraska

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Comments (3)

  • Avatar

    VOWG

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    The best thing would be to prohibit the building of all wind turbines anywhere. They are not efficient and use more energy to build than they ever produce.

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Kevin Doyle

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    When a private company or venture seeks funding to create or expand its business, it needs to produce financial statements of expected ‘return on investment’.
    Has anyone in Nebraska done a financial review of existing windmills?
    How much did these windmills cost to build?
    How many kW of electricity have they produced to date?
    At the current rate of production, how many years/decades will it take to recover the initial investment (assuming no maintenance)?
    How much have your electricity bills increased in Nebraska since introducing windmills and expensive solar panels?

    Anyone? Beuller??

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Bill

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    Will somebody please stop and think of the companies. Please! They need these tax scams. I mean tax breaks! You have to stop thinking about these scams… er projects. The media and government will tell you what to think, like always! Just obey! /s (it should be obvious though)

    Reply

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