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POMEROY–The Garfield County Planning Commission discussed pages 91-99 of the proposed alternative energy code and tasked staff with research at their meeting on Dec. 18.
The part of the code discussed pertained to conditional use permits of wind energy facilities. Particular areas of discussion were setback requirements, soil protections, and property right protections. Commissioner Kyler Lovgren shared his priorities of public safety, environmental safety, property rights, and reflecting the county's vision. A recurring question was setback distance from property lines and residences. The commissioners tasked the outside council staff that drafted the proposed code to further research safety standards for distance and noise disturbance setbacks.
Virginia Wiseman of Enel Green Power gave an overview of the company's Cloudwalker Project, where she stated that the project is expected to consist of 80 to 100 turbines and produce up to 375 megawatts of wind power. She also stated that she estimates the project will provide $3-5 million dollars of tax revenue to county entities including the Garfield County Current Expense levy, Pomeroy School District, Garfield County Hospital District and Garfield County Fire District #1, among others. Wiseman also stated that Enel has successfully decommissioned two projects due to unviability.
Public comment at the meeting primarily focused around property rights, both the rights of landowners to lease their land to the energy companies and the concern about nonparticipating property rights being infringed upon. Also brought forward in the public comment was opinion both in favor and against further construction of wind facilities in the county.
