Supervisors differ with setback distances

Despite differences with proposed distances with wind turbine setbacks, the Union County Board of Supervisors Monday continued its discussion with suggested changes to the ordinance. No action was taken.

Late last year, supervisors were informed by property owners of potential expansion of the wind turbines in Union County. The proposed area was generally in the southern part of the county. Earlier this year, the supervisors approved a suspension of all new wind turbine permits until December to review the county’s ordinance. The county’s initial 36 turbines have been in operation since 2020, but expansion possibilities has influenced the supervisors to review. Setback distances has been featured.

“I think we are in agreement with one of Supervisor (Dennis) Hopkins’ recommendation of 1 kilometer from the property line, or a minimum of 3,281 (feet),” said Supervisor Chairman Rick Friday.

The county has required a minimum 1,500 feet from a structure.

But wind turbines in the future may not be exactly like the ones constructed in the past. Knowing the height may be taller, supervisors are considering a multiplier setback; using a number multiplied by the height if the tower.

“I proposed eight times. Dennis Hopkins was 5.5,” Friday said.

“Why not pick a number in between because there is no right answer. There is just the best answer we can come up with,” said Supervisor Dennis Brown. He suggested 6.75, but would also be in favor of seven.

Hopkins said seven adds about another 900 feet to his suggestion, a total of 4,182 feet. Friday said his goal is three-quarters of a mile, 3,690 feet on a 600 foot tower. Friday prefers seven.

“I just want to be able to justify it,” Hopkins said about determining the number. Hopkins said his research of other counties has shown a wide variety of counties, “anywhere from 1,250 feet to a mile-and-a-half.” Union County expects to include the length of the blades as part of the tower’s total height.

“They never tell you how they came up with that,” he said about those other municipalities’ ordinances.

The county’s ordinance states at least a 1 mile setback from all municipalities’ borders. Other categories have other distances.

“I want to be fair to everybody. I want to protect the property owners but I don’t think it’s our job to kill the projects. That’s shouldn’t be our position. We have to be fair to all our constituents. If the energy companies want to work real hard to get it, then they are going to have to work hard as long as it protects the neighbors,” Hopkins said.

Friday said the county’s inclusion of waivers between participating and non-participating landowners will continue allowing wind turbines.

“Let us not forget 122 people in our courtroom,” Friday said about the meetings earlier this year concerned about the wind turbine expansion proposal. “We are trying to create a balance the best we can.”

Hopkins said he still supports the dozen or so people who are interested in having a wind turbine “whether we like them or not.”

Friday is expecting discussion about decommissioning will require more time and research. Decommissioning is when the turbine is no longer needed and who is responsible for removal.

Hopkins said some research he found show the average is $51,000 per megawatt for decommissioning. The proposed turbines for Union County are 4 megawatt but the county only requires $35,000 total for decommissioning.

Supervisors do want to hear from organizers of the Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days event held annually in September that includes dozens of pilots flying through Union County if additional turbines are added. Event organizers will be asked if they can meet with supervisors next week.

“Setbacks won’t ever kill a project; we the landowners that decide if we are going to sign or if we’re not,” said Francine Ide, who was in the audience and has met with supervisors in the past about wind turbines.

In other county news...

Veterans Affair Director Kevin Provost told the supervisors he has ended working both Union and Adams counties offices. Adams County recently hired its own director. Provost said his hours in Union County will be for five hours a day Monday through Thursday.

In a related matter, the supervisors approved reappointing three of the VA board members to another three-year term at the request of Provost; chairman Gary O’Daniels, Sharon Moffitt an John Parkins. Other board members are Gary Riley and Paul Miller.

County Engineer Christian Boehmer informed supervisors 18 signs stating names of rivers and or watershed have been placed throughout the county. The county received a Department of Natural Resources grant last year to fund the signs.