Wind Farm Breezes By First-Round Approval

An application for Antelope County’s fifth wind farm breezed through first-round approval last week as the planning commission passed a conditional use permit.

Nearly 50 people squeezed into the basement meeting room of the courthouse last Tuesday for a hearing on the 171-turbine Thunderhead Wind Farm, which will include up to 134 turbines in Antelope County, that is proposed northwest of Elgin, south of Clearwater and west into Wheeler County.

Following comments of both support and opposition for the wind farm, the conditional use permit was passed 6-2. The application now moves to the county commissioners. Clerk Lisa Payne said she expected the permit to be on the Dec. 4 commissioners’ agenda.

Josh Framel, senior manager of renewable development for Invenergy, detailed plans for the wind farm, which will connect at the Holt County substation. He and other Invenergy team members answered questions, including why the application included a condition that turbines shall not move more than 900 feet in any direction from the specific proposed location.

Zoning Administrator Liz Doerr told the planning commission that the Upstream Wind Farm north of Neligh included a condition of 600 feet.
Framel said the additional 300 feet may not be needed with most turbines, but it would allow flexibility to shift locations up to 900 feet to sites outside of pivots to optimize wind and adjust for subsurface conditions.

The turbines on the Thunderhead Wind Farm would range from 2.3 to 3.8 MWs with the total height not exceeding 500 feet. Framel said final turbine locations would meet all county setbacks and related requirements.

Thunderhead would be the fifth wind farm in the county. Tax records for 2017 show Prairie Breeze I, II and III generated nearly $900,000 in nameplate capacity tax and $200,000 in personal property tax.

Upstream Wind Farm, which must be operational by Dec. 31, is estimated to contribute another $1,300,000 in combined nameplate and property tax.

Framel said Thunderhead will create 300-400 construction jobs for more than a year with up to a dozen full-time jobs created.

Several individuals, including Neligh Economic Development Director Gabe Steinmeyer and Norfolk Mayor Josh Moenning, spoke in favor of the financial impact. Local landowners were quick to ask Steinmeyer if he owned land in Antelope County. Steinmeyer said he did not.

Opponents voiced concerns about what steps will be taken after the turbines are decommissioned and no longer in use.

Doerr said the permit includes a condition that states the decommission plan will be approved by county commissioners. She said those details must be worked out prior to final approval of the wind farm.

Although the planning commission did approve the conditional use permit, Doerr reminded those in the audience that the permit will be in limbo for several months as commissioners work through questions and concerns.  W