HUTCHINSON, Kan. — What has become a very long and drawn out process when it comes to wind energy in Reno County takes another step forward again on Tuesday.
Reno County commissioners will once again discuss wind farms during their agenda session. The meeting will include 30 minutes of public comment both for and against the regulations.
The commission will then further discuss the regulations, which have been more than a year in the making. Commissioners directed planning and zoning to draw up regulations after the board failed to approve a conditional use permit for the NextEra wind project near Cheney Reservoir.
At that time, the board indicated it did not want to place a ban on wind energy. Since the planning department and a special committee came up with the new regulations, the commission has picked and poked at them.
What the final draft of the regulations will look like and how it compares with the planning committee's initial recommendations is still not known. Questions have been raised as to whether the regulations, while allowing for wind energy development, will leave any wiggle room for such development.
Tuesday’s County Commission meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Reno County Courthouse.
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