Requests to ban industrial wind turbines in Cherry County and to reclassify massive wind turbine structure as industrial from their current commercial/utility classification in applicable regulations were approved by the members of the Planning and Zoning board at their meeting on January 15th at Valentine.
A public comment period allowed further details to be given for the requests by Messrs. Wayne Eatinger and William Weller.
Eatinger was the first to speak while presenting a map graphic that showed the potential impact that wind turbine developments could have upon the Cherry County landscape. Circles with a diameter of 24 miles were centered on land spaces where turbine developments might occur because the land owners are associated with legally filed easements. The vast majority of the county was within one circle or another. Especially indicative were the four circles originating on the periphery of the McKelvie Division, Nebraska National Forest. There would be one place or another within this grassland and forest plantings expanse – with some of the best dark skies of the central Great Plains – where 600 foot-tall wind turbines could always be seen from a prominent vantage.
The 12-mile radius represented by the map was a conservative estimation. This distance is now known to be inadequate. A tall wind turbine 15 miles away can be readily seen from the right point of view. One turbine west of Valentine can be seen from near Kilgore, a distance of 24 miles, according to west Kilgore resident Carolyn Semin.
There are apparently plans to revise this map to indicate a distance of 15 miles.
The next map graphic was personally presented. It had a title of “Map Graphic Indicating Property Owner Perspectives Regarding Placement of Industrial Wind Turbines Within Cherry County” based upon individual considerations a vast amount of land parcels.
This evaluation indicated what is known for vast swaths of the county. Thanks to Brock Moreland and Rick Weber for their help in getting the map steadily placed on an easel so the P&Z board could get a suitable view.
These are the indicative color-codes on the map graphic, and they are indicative, as derived from known facts:
- Red: property owners opposed to industrial wind turbines. Derived from comments at public hearings, public records and most recently, direct personal communications (i.e., phone calls and conversations) as a result of ongoing efforts by many concerned residents that want a range and ranch land setting. Red is the most prominent color on the map graphic, readily indicating the expansive opposition by ranch families, individuals, ranch corporations, and others to industrial wind turbines. Many neighbors stand together in their solidarity of opposition to industrial wind turbine development in Cherry County country. Nearly every proposed wind turbine locality is surrounded by red because the neighbors do not want any turbines among the hills.
A multitude of parcels for owners of some of the largest tracts of land in the county are included in this category.
Green: public property including Valentine NWR and Fort Niobrara NWR, Niobrara Valley Preserve owned by The Nature Conservancy, wildlife management areas owned by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Nebraska National Forest - McKelvie Division, Niobrara National Scenic River, Bowring Ranch State Historical Park. There are also sites where conservation easements conserve the range land setting (i.e., Vanderploeg place along the Niobrara River south of Valentine, Horse Creek Ranch, and Jumbo and Pullman Valley Fen, etc.). There are also a few USA owned tracts where turbines could not be placed on these small, publicly owned and isolated land parcels. Some of these parcels are managed as part of Valentine NWR.
- Yellow: spaces where turbines could or would not be placed based upon location or public sentiment. There will be no industrial wind turbine facilities placed within Valentine, nor amidst any housing tracts or local to Miller Airport. There will be no industrial wind turbines placed within county villages. There are also land tracts where a land-owner has not indicated whether they are for or against wind turbines but will not have wind turbines on their property. This coloration also includes a few sections owned by the State of Nebraska, without a BELF ownership designation, and where the citizens of Nebraska need to be able to voice their opinion on any and all drastic land management decisions.
- Brown: enrolled members of Cherry County Wind LLC or people that have expressed support for wind turbines being placed upon their property. The extent of land enrolled by “forwindees” is readily available in Cherry county public records.
- Black: isolated parcels where the Board of Educational Lands and Funds colluded with Cherry County Wind LLC to enroll publicly-owned parcels for involvement in potential wind-turbine development. There was no public involvement in any decision by the agency board. There had to have been some collusion as the parcels indicated by county records of agreement match so well with associated private property included for potential, future industrial wind turbine development.
Purple: land owned by R.E. “Ted” Turner and former state senator Al Davis. Both have been involved in efforts to promote wind turbines but have not indicated whether they would allow turbines on their property. Turner has replied to inquiries on whether industrial wind turbines would be placed on any of the Sandhills Ranch Properties in Cherry, Sheridan and Garden counties. There has been no definitive answer provided.
- Blue: wetlands including so many special lakes, including at Valentine NWR where millions of dollars are being spent to improve the quality of the waters for subsequent values for people fishing and bird-watching. There are also prominent sections of rivers where industrial wind turbines will never be built.
- White: representing property owners that are neutral in regards to the placement of industrial wind turbines or land-owners whose view is not yet known. There are multiple blank parcels included in this category because they are owned by members of the planning board as well as a county commissioner or two.
Efforts will continue to determine landowner positions and further convey perspectives on the map graphic until the day when the commissioners have their required public hearing.
During the meeting, several people vividly expressed their views. Others were present to convey their support for the two amendments.
There is “overwhelming support for not having wind turbines in Cherry County,” said Craig Andresen of Wood Lake.
Mr. Rick Weber indicated that the people he deals with in his real estate business want to come to the sandhills because of the great grass resources and since it is such a unique place. The “wind turbine gold rush is over,” he said.
When William “Billy” Weller stood and spoke in support of his amendment request, his poignant point was that current residents are “stewards of our heirs.” His request is another piece of the puzzle that fits together in the discussion regarding wind turbines, and received great support.
From the Brownlee village country, there came additional voices.
“There is a lot of wisdom in both amendments,” said Craig Miles, while he came to town from his legacy ranch way to the south of the Heart City. He has spoken to again and again and once more in opposition to wind turbines. On the 15th he expressed the importance of dialog and the value of listening.
Barb Welch of the Brush Creek Ranch with its north unit west of Brownlee added other indicative comments. “There is a time and place for everything,” she said. “Stop and think of what you are doing,” she said while continuing to speak to the Planning and Zoning Board. There are important places where there should not be industrial wind turbines. She conveyed once again the views from a woman against wind, that no one wants wind turbines to be seen from Mount Rushmore and other important national monuments citizens know to be are important. “Don’t put turbines in a place we treasure,” while she spoke about the Great American Sandhills.
Gary and Glenda Phipps residing in the north Whitman country also drove a bunch of miles to be present. Wind turbines are a “little bit of money for some people,” he said.
When Bob Stetter stood to speak, there was complete silence in respect as there had been throughout the public comment period. Bob got his notes together and then expressed a local radio station comment spoken on the local radio station: “welcome to paradise.” “Keep the sandhills a paradise,” Stetter said in agreement, adding other expressions indicating that industrial wind turbines should be kept out of the Sand Hills.
A complete slate of P&Z board members was not present on the 15th. At least newly appointed member Duane Kime was there. The newly appointed woman from the Cody was not seen anywhere near the Valentine meeting room. She was appointed and could not even attend the first meeting of her tenure.
About 50 people attended the meeting and when the crowd was asked to stand if they supported the two amendments, everyone stood. This included stalwarts that have once and again stood with their neighbors in opposing wind, including personal time, travelling to pertinent meetings, doing research and otherwise being involved in the process for the past few years. They included these neighbors, as representative: Semin, Weber, Moreland, Welch, MacLeod, Trimble, Witt, Young, Wolfenden, McCormick, Rhoades, Mundorf, Gallinol, Warren and Hanna, et al.
Both amendments will henceforth by submitted to the county commissioners. A public hearing will then be scheduled. The three commissioners will then decide on whether these amendments would be enacted, and thus the fate of Cherry County in regards to industrial wind turbines.
