How far is too close?
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Supervisors discuss possible wind turbine sites.
The Ringgold County Board of Supervisors held a wind and solar ordinance workshop during their regular meeting on Monday, June 19, 2023.
Prior to making any decisions about ordinances, the Board of Supervisors met virtually with Dale Walkup from Southern Iowa REC, along with Phil Kinser, the CEO of Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO), Kerry Koonce, Andrew St. John, and Sam Stineman, also with CIPCO.
Andrew St. John presented an overview of the power sources that the not-for-profit cooperative taps into to provide power for roughly 10 percent of the rural areas in Iowa.
Wind energy currently accounts for nearly 40 percent of all sources used to provide power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. CIPCO shared this percentage is still growing.
Coal powered energy is declining, but still accounts for nearly 27 percent of power generation.
The MISO network provides nearly 19 percent of CIPCO’s power.
Solar currently accounts for 7 percent, hydro and landfill accounts for 3 percent, natural gas provided 2.4 percent, and CIPCO purchases around 2.6 percent of power from others. St. John also noted that nuclear power is not part of their portfolio.
While each power source has pros and cons, CIPCO takes a balanced approach to providing energy, as the cost of electricity is affected by available sources.
Of the 100-120 wind turbines that CIPCO owns, most wind farms only include 15-20 wind turbines per area.
While CIPCO has no firm plans to add additional wind energy farms to their portfolio, they have not ruled out additional wind projects.
At the conclusion of the presentation, Colby Holmes remarked “You have opened our eyes. I had no idea how complex that grid system is.”
Since passing a temporary moratorium on the construction of wind turbines, Ringgold County Supervisors have talked with many area residents about their thoughts on allowing wind turbines in the unincorporated areas of the county.
People told me “We don’t want any of them,” Steve Knapp stated.
Colby Holmes noted hearing similar statements, “Our citizen’s don’t want them.”
“Not one person has told me they like them,” stated Randy Taylor. “No one has approached us saying they want them,” Taylor added.
Ringgold County Attorney Clint Spurrier then led the supervisors through a work session to draft ordinances for the construction of wind turbines.
Most of the discussion centered around set back distances. Referencing the most recent change Adair county is considering, the supervisors used the proposed set back distance of 2,000 ft as a starting point.
Supervisor Knapp led the discussion stating “I don’t think 1,500 feet is far enough. I’m thinking 2,000 feet from the property line.”
Supervisor Holmes agreed, “I like the property line.”
“That would protect everybody,” Knapp stated, noting that the property line is fair to all residents in the area.
“I think it helps,” added Taylor.
Spurrier clarified that the ordinance addresses commercial development, noting “You’re not preventing wind turbines for personal use.”
Supervisors agreed that a set back distance of 2,000 feet from the property line leaves a possibility for a few wind turbines.
“We don’t want to go down,” noted supervisor Knapp.
“Do we want to go up?” Supervisor Holmes asked. “We might as well go to 2,500 feet,” Holmes added.
Later in discussion, the set back distance came up again. Acknowledging that most farmers think in quarter mile and half mile increments, Holmes asked if they should consider 2,640 feet rather than 2,500 feet.
Supervisor Knapp jokingly agreed, “Yeah, let’s say a half mile or 2,640 ft, whichever is greater.”
In all seriousness, the supervisors agreed that farther was better.
The draft also allows for private property owners to make their own decision by applying for a waiver.
The supervisors plan to review the draft at their upcoming meeting, Wednesday, June 28, and set public hearings at that time.
