(Spirit Lake)– A debate over wind energy heated things up at Tuesday’s Dickinson County Board of Supervisors meeting.
The debate stemmed from a proclamation the supervisors were requested to approve, designating the week of July 19th through the 25th as Wind Energy Week in Dickinson county. The proclamation is to coincide with the July 21st dedication of the Flying Cloud Wind Farm west of Spirit Lake.
One supervisor, Pam Jordan, questioned the amount of property taxes the county derives from the facility…a question that couldn’t be immediately answered.
Another supervisor, Paul Johnson, said he’s had complaints from constituents over what he termed “visual pollution” and environmental effects the turbines may be having.
But fellow supervisor Wayne Northey says the turbines are bringing revenue into the county that it wouldn’t see otherwise, including nearly 20-thousand dollars in permit fees, along with benefitting farmers who receive lease payments for their land on which the turbines are located.
The supervisors voted four-to-one to approve the wind energy proclamation, with Johnson casting the lone no vote.
