Commissioners: Wind decisions can't be rushed

More than 200 Goodhue County residents have signed a petition asking commissioners to enforce half-mile setbacks between wind turbines and homes and impose a moratorium on wind farm construction if more study is necessary.

Commissioners said Tuesday they would consider the petition but will continue gathering information on two wind farms proposed in the rural Goodhue area before making any decisions.

"I think the biggest mistake would be to act too quickly. There's a lot of pressure to do something quickly but that isn't always the best decision," Commissioner Dan Rechtzigel said. "We're listening. We haven't done what they want us to do yet. Whatever the board does, my guess is there will be a lot of unhappy people."

A group of concerned citizens - more than 30 of whom were at Tuesday's Goodhue County Board meeting - have raised issues with projects proposed by Goodhue Wind and Geronimo Wind, two Minnesota-based companies.

Both companies want to build large wind farms in this area within the next few years. Goodhue Wind has already filed a permit with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission - the state agency in charge of permitting such large projects.

The local group wants health and safety issues addressed and also has questions about the Community-Based Energy Development designation - which is supposed to guarantee local project ownership - granted to both projects.

Rechtzigel agrees the board should be actively involved as Goodhue County becomes a popular spot for wind energy companies.

The commissioner said he first needs more clarification from the state regarding new legislation that appears to grant counties more power over large wind farms. Rechtzigel said the relatively new legislation - which county officials say has never been used by other counties - is "unclear."

The issue was muddied even more in November when County Attorney Stephen Betcher issued a legal opinion that Goodhue County officials must take permitting and regulatory responsibility for medium-scale projects if they want to influence the state to impose stricter setbacks on wind farms over 25 megawatts. Projects proposed in rural Goodhue are 78 and 50 megawatts.

Commissioners have said publicly that is not a step they're willing to take.

"I think after today it was kind of a wake up call for the commissioners," Commissioner Richard Samuelson said. "People want some answers but there probably will not be a perfect solution."

Rechtzigel, Samuelson and Commissioner Jim Bryant said the board will continue seeking legal advice from the county attorney.

They will also talk to local lawmakers about clearing up legislation so they can comfortably make decisions regarding the local wind farm projects.

"A lot of folks are concerned out that way and I understand that. But we can't stop county business entirely just to focus on one issue," Rechtzigel said. "As a commissioner you don't want to box yourself into doing one thing. You want to study every part of the issue and really make sure you know what you're going to do."

Samuelson said commissioners will continue researching the issue and invite residents to contact them.

"Being a county commissioner we always listen," he said. "But the problem is we don't always do what they want us to do."

Tags: local government, wind energy, goodhue, news, wind