(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson County Planning and Zoning Commission Monday heard a request for the county to loosen its siting requirements for wind turbines. Currently, turbines in Dickinson county can only be built on land zoned agricultural…and even then, approval is needed from the county’s Board of Adjustment.
Jacob Wittkamp of Flow Green Energy Projects, a company that manufactures small turbines, presented the request, saying the county’s limitations are hampering some who want to put up turbines, including the Dickinson County Nature Center.
Zoning Administrator David Kohlhaase said this wouldn’t be the first time the county has re-visited the issue. He says each time the recommendation has come back to limit the placement of turbines on land that’s zoned agriculture. He cited several concerns including visual appearance, height, fall-down, safety and noise.
However one member of the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission, Tim Fairchild of Terril, says he would be willing to re-visit the matter. He’s concerned the county’s tight requirements may force an industry that wants to put one up to relocate somewhere else.
The issue will be back on the agenda for the commission’s meeting next month.
