(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors this (Tues.) morning tabled indefinitely action on a six-year moratorium for any additional wind turbines in the county. The vote was three to one with Supervisor Kim Wermersen casting the lone no vote. Supervisor Steve Clark recused himself. It followed a unanimous vote by the county’s Board of Adjustment to approve a conditional use permit for the construction of 67 turbines in eastern Dickinson county following a public hearing in late April that went through three nights. An attorney for the Red Rock Wind project expressed concern over what she says is ambiguous language in the proposed moratorium…
“Red Rock is concerned that the moratorium could be interpreted to apply to projects that have already received conditional use permits, and that concern would be shared by participating landowners. Because of these concerns we urge the board to carefully consider the resolution because if moratoriums like this are too broadly drafted, it impacts the rights parties may already possess with certain projects. These rights are constitutionally based and they’re guaranteed protections.”
She added there’s also concern the proposed moratorium could prohibit the installation of other forms of renewable energy, such as solar panels.
Among those expressing support for a moratorium was Debbi Garrett, a Dickinson county resident…
“Let’s give this a try, let’s see how this goes. There’s nothing wrong with that. I think it’s appropriate, and I really do believe that this moratorium should go into effect. And it’s not for an indefinite, it’s for a specific time of six years. Red Rock finishes it’s project, it gives it time to fulfill all of their financial obligations including putting up the disassembling finances upfront, as they said they would. We need to see this evidence.”
The proposed moratorium was brought to the table by Supervisors Levi Markwardt and Steve Dullard. Markwardt says it was not his intention to be vague, adding he would be happy to meet with County Attorney Steve Goodlow to clarify the language…
“My intent was to speak for who I feel I represent, who elected me, and that was to put a pause on all future projects. If I need to clean up the wording of this I am more than happy to go back down and get it changed and be more direct or more intentional with my words and seek guidance from Mr. Goodlow.”
Fellow supervisor Kim Wermersen expressed his opposition to a moratorium, siting existing wind turbines in the western part of the county…
“Some of those turbines are nearly 500 feet tall. We also have a stronger wind energy ordinance whether you like it or not today than we’ve ever had. It comes down to whether you dislike wind turbines or if you believe landowners should have the right to place them on their property for income. For me, that’s really what we’re talking about here. I know there’s a lot of emotions but we’ve had experiences for 20 years. I personally think this is very vague. I’m not in favor of this moratorium.”
A timeline wasn’t give as to when the proposed moratorium could come back to the supervisors.
