The Greene County supervisors had the first of what is likely to be many discussions on repowering wind turbines. Repowering is generally done every 8-10 years for safety purposes. Repowering involves an overhaul and updating, while maintenance would more likely be replacing failed or worn parts.
County planning/zoning officer Chuck Wenthold provided the supervisors with a copy of O’Brien County’s ordinance about repowering, noting that it’s one of the better ordinances in the state.
Wenthold said owners of the turbines north of Jefferson (originally Hardin Hilltop Wind) and the turbines near Rippey are looking at repowering, He hadn’t heard yet from Mid-American, which owns the remaining turbines. He said his questions were whether repowering needs to be handled by the board of adjustment, the zoning office, or the board of supervisors. He said changing the height or the blade size during repowering would need to be reviewed by the board of adjustment. If only maintenance is done, it would be looked at by the zoning board.
Supervisor Joe Gannon pointed out that changing the height of a wind turbine and/or the length of the blade would change the setback needed from roadways and other turbines. New turbine technology calls for longer blades so electricity can be generated at lower wind speeds.
Additionally, ADLS – aircraft detection lighting systems – are now available. The lights at the top of wind turbines blink only when aircraft are in the vicinity, rather than constantly. Changing to that system could be part of repowering.
John Huff, Mid American project manager, was at the meeting. He reminded the supervisors there are 169 wind turbines in the Beaver Creek wind farm, 125 of which are in Greene County. He said Midland Power pays $2.4 million in taxes to Greene County annually. The company has no immediate plans to repower Beaver Creek, but it will be done in the next two years or so.
Huff said Mid American has repowered 18 or 19 wind farms and has had no injuries related to the repowering. He said blades are longer, and the new nacelles, the housing at the top of the turbine behind the blades that contains the turbine’s mechanical and electrical systems – are larger. That requires additional height.
James Holz attended the meeting. According to him, there are turbines in the Rippey wind farm with underground lines only one foot deep rather than the required four. Holz reported the company says it’s due to erosion. The ground has been used for no-till cover crops in since the turbines were installed, Holz said.
County attorney Thomas Laehn suggested there be more research about where the 4-foot depth was mentioned. He said there may be federal or state codes that would preempt any regulation the county might put in place.
Huff said he would be more concerned about shallow lines under the turbines than the height of the turbines.
Laehn said the supervisors should pass a new ordinance to reduce uncertainty in repowering. “That’s beneficial for everyone. It’s beneficial for the county, the landowners, and it’s also more democratic that this elected board is setting the parameters. Companies can still request a variance, but you’ve set the framework… It reduces our exposure, our liability if we have an ordinance. There’s a sense of clear expectations,” he said.
“The biggest thing is to have discussion on it, do some research,” Wenthold said.
In other business, the supervisors approved a resolution designating the east entrance of the courthouse and the bulletin board outside the second floor board room as the place to post legal notices of meetings. Boards, commissions, and committees appointed by the supervisors, as well as township boards, must also approve a resolution designating where legal notices of meetings will be posted. The supervisors approved 28E agreements for recycling services with the cities of Churdan, Rippey and Paton. The county has agreed to reimburse each city for one-half of what it pays the city of Jefferson for recycling services, so that rural residents can use the in-town recycling bins. Each city also has a 28E agreement with the city of Jefferson to pay the other half of the cost on behalf of city residents.
