After months of study, the town adopted an ordinance that liimits noise from wind turbines and requires setbacks of at least one mile from non-participating homes. Note: the ordinance also references the health impacts of wind turbine noise and specifically mentions the 2009 study done by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Members of the Interstate Informed Citizens Coalition claimed a victory Wednesday as the Riga Township board approved a zoning ordinance governing wind turbines. Key elements of the law require the setback from properties without a wind turbine to be four times the height of a turbine and limits the sound level to 40 decibels between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and 45 decibels between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

According to the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, In 2010, Blue Ribbon Energy applied for a permit to construct 27 wind turbines near Goshen, Idaho. The Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission denied the request, citing a lack of sufficient information on the turbines’ proximity to residences. The developer appealed to the Bingham County commissioners, who reversed the denial and granted approval. However, a second phase of the project was rejected in 2012, due to concerns over property values, as well as the purported health and safety risks of wind energy.

The Putnam County Board of Zoning Appeals put the brakes on an energy company’s proposal to bring a 200-megawatt solar farm to Russell Township. In a special meeting Tuesday evening at the Bainbridge Community Center, a motion to approve the special exception for Cold Spring Solar Farm was defeated 4-1. Lora Scott, who made the motion, was the only affirmative vote. Fellow board members Randy Bee, Raymond McCloud, Kevin Scobee and Ron Sutherlin all cast negative votes. After 14 months of meetings and negotiations between Putnam County leaders and officials from Arevon Energy and developer Tenaska, the issue is at an end ... at least for now. Along the way, the plan received approval of a tax abatement from the Putnam County Council, as well as a $6 million economic development agreement with the Putnam County Commissioners, in addition to the framework of agreements on decommissioning and road use. The BZA, however, proved less amenable to the idea of converting 1,400 acres of farmground into a solar field.