Wind Turbine Regulations Approved by Planning and Zoning Board at Valentine Meeting

January 24, 2019. Wind turbine regulations approved by Planning and Zoning Board at Valentine meeting. Grant County News 134(26): 1, 4, 7.

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.

Special Recognition Given to Unique Nebraska Conservationist

Two events occurred during mid-May to recognize the many efforts by Ione Werthman a farm girl raised near Coleridge, Nebr. Her educational focus and concerns for the natural features would after years of interest and concern become a unique and special legacy associated with getting things done to protect natural resources in Nebraska.

A first recognition event occurred Thursday, May 17^th at Heron Haven Wetland in west Omaha at the nature center which Ione was instrumental in working with the local NRD to establish a place where natural values continue on a daily basis at a prominent natural area within a developed urban environment filled with streets and buildings.

A proclamation issued by the Omaha City Council indicated it was “Ione Werthman Day.” A key aspect was that the city street on the north side of the haven was officially redesignated as “Ione Werthman Drive.”

More than 20 people were at the haven nature center event, according to a member of the Werthman family in attendance. People present included Sam Bennett, the current president of the Friends of Heron Haven group and who was instrumental in the recognition effort, Mark Brohman the director of the Nebraska Environmental Trust who has always been supportive of funding requests to promote conservation efforts for a bit of an urban wetland filled with natural life, and other people with an interest and luminaries, including Hal Daub.

Ione Werthman won awards from the Nebraska Wildlife Federation and National Audubon Society for her efforts, according to the proclamation signed by each member of the Omaha city council. This indicated item conveys a basic tenant given for the distinctive honoree: “Whereas, Ione Werthman has been referred to as a fierce protector of wildlife and one of Nebraska’s iconic conservationists” ...

It is very obvious that even years after her active efforts that some key people recognized a legacy and undertook successful efforts to recognize a personal legacy.

Valentine Recognition

During a drizzly, cool afternoon when incessant rain fell upon Valentine environs on Saturday the 19^th, a fine group of people gathered to convey how so many did so many essential actions that resulted in the establishment of the Niobrara National Scenic River. The appreciation meeting was sponsored by the National Park Service.

There were many “Great Americans” recognized. Obviously Ione Werthamn and her husband Al were actively involved once efforts to conserve the free-flowing Niobrara River became an issue of a broad public concern.

Ione and Al’s son Jerry spoke first, and was “thankful for what my mom and dad did” while he shared some particular highlights of their legacy. Ione followed her husband as a leader of the Audubon Society of Omaha, then Nebraska Audubon Council and then to a national level as a member of the board of directors for National Audubon Society. She traveled to Washington D.C. three times to promote the designation of a significant portion of the Niobrara as a scenic river.

Also present was the couple’s daughter Jeanne.

In subsequent years, she was the key force behind the founding of Heron Haven, protecting a relic wetland from development and then directing its establishment as a distinct nature area with a nature center in a former bar.

An especially prominent event at the celebration was the unveiling of a framed document recognizing Ione’s involvement in getting the scenic river established. The wall hanging was loaned to the National Park Service for display at the Niobrara Scenic River visitor center.

Werthman Family at the recognition event at Valentine.

Many names were mentioned when Bruce Kennedy, member of Friends of the Niobrara River, spoke. He mentioned that the 1970s were “a dark period of those who loved rivers” in Nebraska. There were plans to place dams on the Platte, Calamus and Niobrara rivers. “Leadership emerged,” he said. “It was one of the most fantastic things I’ve ever seen.”

Ione Werthman was a member of the friends group since its beginning, and continues to be listed as a member, despite her death in 2016.

The extent of people that cared increased when Mel Thorton dramatically indicated his recollections. People individually recognized included Ron Klataska associated with the National Audubon Society (Kennedy recalled his horseback ride along the river valley to promote the scenic river; he initially bought the property that would eventually become the Fred Thomas WMA at the east end of the scenic river; and as a leader of the Audubon of Kansas was instrumental in establishing the Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary along the Niobrara River), Fred Thomas an environmental reporter for the Omaha World-Herald that was an essential asset as he wrote of news and activities and continually contributed through reporting and personal interest until his death in 1999 with the Fred Thomas WMA officially dedicated in October 1999, Laura and Merle Curry, Franklin and Lillie Egelhoff, Loren Wilson who was one of the first outfitters along the river, Ernest Rousek and Tim Knott (he accompanied Ione to Washingto D.C. to speak to legislators about the need for a scenic river) of Audubon, as well as Wes Sandall an area rancher.

“These are our great Americans,” said Bruce Kennedy.

Mel Thorton talked about the effort to split an acre of land near Rocky Ford into 4840 square yard parcels that were sold for $25 each so that any effort to build a dam would have to individually deal with each owner. He explained that in 2008 the Niobrara River was listed as one of the ten most threatened river in the nation due to water being taken for irrigation purposes. Soon, the river was declared to be fully appropriated, impeding any further extractions.

Having an opportunity to personally comment, it was simply wonderful to remember an activist of past times. Ione Werthman was a compatriot. We were a team. We were goal oriented. If someone told us No, that was simply the wrong answer because there are times when that single word was a call to further action and “digging in the heels” to ensure conservation of something essential and valuable. Were we always successful? Of course not but we were still very effective. Ione and I learned as we collaborated together on activities mostly done in association with the Audubon society.

We would not let some bureaucrat impose their view that a development that would destroy uniquely valuable natural values because of the perceived need for something like a dam to provide water to irrigate corn fields. Or in later years to allow a natural spring book to get put into a culvert because engineers did not put in the time to achieve what had already been agreed to. The bureaucrats may have changed their mind, but an adamant no meant a redesign that meant there would be no culvert for the brook at Spring Lake Park, a City of Omaha project that would eventually win an environmental award for its design and implementation.

When attending a recognition dinner for having received environmentalist of the year award from Woodmen (for getting conservation management at a small public land parcel at Levi Carter Park), I made sure to invite Ione and insisted that she speak and share some of her recollections. She was the one that deserved the award. It was grand that she could share the spotlight and be publicly acknowledged.

I still remember visiting Ione in her room at the assisted living facility just a short distance from where she knew my family as we were active participants in the local church community.

Ione was my friend and I am pleased to have her been her ally and to have been helped her to get an oprational windmill from a Cherry county ranch at get it erected at Heron Haven. This effort failed, probably because she could be less involved as age was having its affect.
Perhaps, as an option, a Sandhills windmill should be placed at Rocky Ford if/when it becomes another unique river asset that the public can appreciate and treasure now and for future generations.

Ione Werthman was certainly a Great American. Her legacy continues to be known by activists including those involved in the conservation movement for so many past years, while new generations very much appreciate the Niobrara National Scenic River and Heron Haven.

There are some very prominent conservation concerns along the Niobrara River and the Sand Hills. It is heartening that several ranch women have stepped to the plate and are essential in efforts to protect the sandhills from industrial wind turbine facilities and industrial powerlines. Ione would certainly be pleased about this...

Ranchland Advocates Attend Cherry County Soup Supper

Sand Hill residents concerned about the potential for wind turbines and the R-project powerline gathered the evening of February 4th at the Hamilton Ranch in southeast Cherry county.

In addition to local residents, people drove the roads from nearby Brownlee, from up at Valentine and Wood Lake, as well as from Burwell. All appreciated the hospitality of Kort Hamilton, and his parents John and Cindy Hamilton, who provided a warm equipment shed for the meeting sponsored by Preserve the Sandhills.

After ranch country conversation, a supper featured wonderful, home-made soups that were hearty eating on a cool winter evening. There were also fine tasting desserts. Each cook needs to be congratulated on their culinary skills used to prepare food that was enjoyed and savored.

Several items of current interest were then discussed.

Amy Ballagh, a distinct leader of Save the Sandhills and from the north Burwell ranch country, discussed the R-Project transmission line. A key concern is the route which this huge industrial powerline will follow, and the easement process being done by NPPD. She indicated hundreds of pages of documentation associated with an environmental assessment of this project. There are alternate routes southward of the corridor currently selected by Nebraska Public Power District which could avoid many of the problems associated with the current route, including potential impacts on the endangered Whooping Crane, expected impacts on the American Burying Beetle and damage to essential ranchland resources.

Details of this project readily convey that it would be essential in providing a means to distribute power generated by local turbine farm facilities. This would include a proposed turbine farm near the Hamilton ranch where there are known details for a 147 turbine facility, since a means of distribution would be available. NPPD prefers to slight this reality despite multiple instances of records that indicate the R-Project would provide a means where locally generated power could be sent outside Nebraska.

Another primary topic of the evening were the legislative bills being considered by the Nebraska legislator in Lincoln, as presented by Twyla Witt, with ancillary comments.

These bills include LB 504, introduced by District 43 representative Tom Brewer. This is the "Save the Sandhills" bill which would establish a two-year moratorium on any development of industrial wind energy projects within the region, and establish a task force to study the issue.

People were urged to get involved in the legislative process to work to get this bill passed, by either attending the public hearing on March 1st in Lincoln, or to communicate their view via phone call, letter or email to members of the Natural Resources committee.

A couple of particulars of this bill were expressed: 1) on Line 26, it says the region had "three hundred species of birds." Based upon 35 years of personal effort to know and understand bird occurrence in the sandhills region, and as based upon a database of more than 150,000 records starting in 1886, the tally is actually more than 400 species, which is a significant difference. There are also other prior records that occurred as far back as 1857; 2) on line 28 there is a typographic error: it is species not "specifies." It is up to the legislators to deal with this mistake in spelling, perhaps through an amendment; and 3) there are other particulars that can be variably considered.

There is also LB 392 which is a “wind friendly counties act” where counties could receive recognition through the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

The local consensus was that counties should have the option to be "wind unfriendly" and keep turbines out. Another bill to oppose was LB87, as indicated by a member of the group with experience in "net metering" in regards to energy development facilities.

Another item of concern mentioned, based upon a conversation with a Nebraska state trooper in the Neligh area, was shared at the soup supper.
There was an obvious influx of construction workers being paid union wages to construct local turbine facilities that apparently resulted in unwanted and illegal activities. There were several obvious results which were not welcomed in the community.

An appreciated expert on wind turbine development, formerly of Minnesota, Kevin Willert of the Duck-Bar Ranch at Kennedy shared some of his experiences from the northland. "The building process is very ugly," he said, in regards to the massive Buffalo Ridge facility where 1100 wind turbines have been built near his former home, and county. More are planned. "Developers don't care what they destroy," he said. Also shared were his experiences with various noises associated with operational wind turbines based upon their mechanics, leaking oil and other miscellany.

It was obvious that Cherry county residents - as well as so many living in other sandhill counties - need to continue to be active and involved in efforts and decisions made by county planning and zoning boards (since it is readily obvious that notably in Cherry county, decisions have been made that ignore regulatory requirements) and the county commissioners. There have been votes to approve conditional use permits which do not comply with zoning regulations.

A special announcement was made by Judy Rath, who has prepared a new website for the sponsor group: it is preservethesandhills.org. This intent of this site is to share the unique life and times of sandhills residents, and how wind turbine developments will affect the lifestyle.

This Saturday event was a wonderful community gathering, and a special opportunity to realize how special the sandhills are, how people care about a unique land, and hours to realize a true sense of community and camaraderie. It was a time to relax, listen to ranch country conversation, enjoy a supper of unsurpassed quality and then hear about efforts to protect the hills. It was a fine time to gather, just before the onset of calving season.