Members of the group Keep Reno Heavenly showed a mix of emotions after the Reno County Commission denied NextEra Energy a permit to build a wind farm in the southeastern part of the county.
On one hand, all of its efforts had paid off. Members of the group had worked for months to organize and participate in public hearings, and they finally got the result they wanted the proposed 220 megawatt wind farm with more than 80 turbines reaching 500 feet in the air would not be built.
On the other, the fight created a divide in the community.
Several people felt like their health and safety were being trampled for a little bit of money. And even though the permit was denied, the fact that their neighbors still disagree with them about something they feel strongly about left an impression.
Im happy so far, said Nick Egli, who opposed the project. But were all pretty sure its not over yet.
While two of the three members of the Reno County Commission were in favor of granting NextEra a permit, Thursday nights vote needed to be unanimous after landowners near the project filed enough protest petitions to change the threshold.
Typically, the three-member commission only needs a majority to grant a conditional use permit.
Commissioner Ron Hirst was the only vote against the permit. He said hes not against wind energy, but putting a wind farm in the southeast corner of the county would negatively impact future growth in a place he feels has potential.
But Commission Chair Bob Bush said rejecting this kind of development because a few people dont like the way turbines look will send a statement that Reno County isnt interested in attracting growth.
Im sorry, he said, but just staring at a deer in your field is not sustained economic growth.
This is one of only a few instances in Kansas where a county commission rejected a permit for a wind farm.
NextEra Energy has worked to develop the project for several years. The site, located northeast of Cheney Reservoir, had strong, consistent winds; was near transmission lines that could take the energy to Wichita and beyond, and had enough landowners willing to lease their land for turbine sites.
NextEra developer Spencer Jenkins said the company tried to work with members of the community who had concerns. It held community information sessions and even met with several people individually.
The final proposal included several changes including eliminating multiple turbines near a private airstrip in an effort to compromise and ease concerns. The plan even called for turbines to be no closer than 2,000 feet to any home on land not participating in the project, which would have been the second-largest setback in the state.
But the effort didnt seem to change the minds of many people opposed to the project a group spurred by misinformation being spread through social media about potential health threats and declines in property value, according to NextEra.
