Wind projects deserve more scrutiny (Guest op-ed)

A couple of weeks ago, the Hughes County Board of Adjustments voted 4 to 1 to advance a conditional use permit for Engie North America, a French company seeking to build 27 wind turbines in eastern Hughes County. Our experience in Hughes County should serve as a warning to every other community across the state - these wind projects need more scrutiny.

To attendees of the meeting, by the time the final votes were cast, it almost appeared to be a done deal. But if that were true, there would be no point in the proceedings. 

The matter came before the Board on a petition for a special use (wind turbines) that, in the words of the zoning code, “will not be injurious to the neighborhood or detrimental to the public welfare” and “will not hinder the enjoyment and use of nearby properties and will not disrupt the appropriate use of land and resources of the county.” The Board was charged with enforcing the zoning code, not exercising its independent judgment on property rights however well intentioned their views may be.

VIEWPOINTS: My bill to block the Tok (Guest op-ed)