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LEXINGTON — The Dawson County Commissioners approved conditional use permits for three 100-foot wind turbines to be located on two properties near Darr during their meeting on Friday, March 15.
The conditional use permits had been submitted by Dave Rowe, a property owner in the Darr area and wanted to add one turbine at a personal residence, located at 75750 Road 426 and two turbines at a farm shop at 75807 Road 426.
Rowe said the wind turbines will be no larger than the traditional cattle wind mills that dot the Plains and he wants to use them to help supply additional power to his properties.
He said the goal is to provide a neutral amount of power with the 25-kilowatt turbines. Rowe added he will not store energy, it will be a “put in and take out,” process.
Rowe said these types of wind turbines are going up in other areas across the state, including Grand Island and Lincoln.
Mark Christiansen, Zoning Administrator, said the county planning commission met and determined the permits meet the county’s requirements and had unanimously voted to recommend approval.
The commissioners followed suit and approved both conditional use permits.
The issue of wind turbines in the county, mainly the 300-to-600-foot variety, generated controversy in Dawson County starting in 2022.
The focus on wind energy came to a head when landowners around the Sumner area received a wind farm and easement agreement from NextEra Energy Resources of Juno Beach, Fla., in late 2022.
The documents were related to a “Canaday Wind Energy Center” that was proposed to be in the county.
Area landowners appealed to the county commissioners, who approved a one-year moratorium on wind farm applications in November 2022.
The Dawson County Planning Commission held several meetings where they have taken public comment to create amendments related to wind farms.
During a December meeting, many of the residents requested five-mile setbacks from non-participating properties. Gene Coldwell, project manager with NextEra Energy Resources said setbacks of this distance would effectively zone out wind energy projects in the county.
The Planning Commission proposed three-mile setbacks from the property line of a non-participating landowner and public conservation lands, including wildlife management areas and state recreation areas.
The distance from a dwelling unit on participating land or road rights-of-way was set at three times the total height of a turbine.
The commissioners had voted unanimously to adopt the regulations in May 2023.
