Supervisors to consider renewable energy codes

WASHINGTON — Washington County supervisors said they would look into ordinances governing wind turbines, solar farms and CO2 pipelines at a meeting on Tuesday.

While wind-powered projects aren’t on the radar in the area, Supervisor Marcus Fedler said addressing county code on turbines now was essential to tax revenue later, citing legal issues faced by Madison County, Iowa, which implemented an ordinance after development started.

“It initially was written as a way to encourage wind development, but the way it’s turned out … the way the state has reinterpreted the law, if you don’t have it, you don’t get anything, it’s treated as a utility,” he said. “That’s something we can read about and look into.”

Board of Supervisors Chair Richard Young said windmill ordinance drafts governing setbacks, noise and taxes previously discussed by the group would return to the agenda for discussion next week.

“If somebody comes in and builds windmills and we don’t have this in place, we’re going to be behind the ball,” he said. “We can start discussing it.”

Supervisor Jack Seward Jr. said the group should consider other energy, however, in light of a planned, but not yet state-approved solar facility north of Ainsworth.

“Now we’ve got to be looking at, ‘Is there anything specific we need to do with solar?’” Seward said. “That project is still ongoing.”

Supervisors said Madison County officials provided draft copies of ordinances for wind and solar energy, as well as CO2 pipelines, which are under consideration in the surrounding area.

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