By Rod Zook
hutchpost.com
SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Planning Commission will look over the draft of proposed regulations for wind farms during Thursday's monthly meeting.
The commission will look over some language and then discuss — and possibly set a date for a public hearing on the regulations. There will be no public comment time during the meeting.
The commission has been working on regulations for wind farms for several months. It comes in the wake of a failed attempt by NextEra Energy to gather unanimous approval from the County Commission on a conditional use permit for a wind farm in southern Reno County.
Many who opposed the project hoped the county would simply put a ban on wind farms, similar to Sedgwick County, but that was not the case.
County Planner Mark Vonachen noted that the new regulations do allow for wind farm development and will bring set guidelines that have not been in place. Thursday’s meeting begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Public Works facility at 600 Scott Blvd. in South Hutchinson.