County commissioners voted Wednesday to update the county’s comprehensive plan and zoning code with specific policies for renewable energy systems. The new regulations prohibit wind facilities and allow solar array systems.

By a 2-1 vote on Thursday, the Seneca County Commissioners went on record against two wind farms proposed locally and came out in support of stronger setback requirements. The resolution states that the county will "withdraw all previous support of the Seneca Wind, Republic Wind or any proposed wind turbine projects to the maximum extent allowed by law."

An angry crowd hurled a range of criticism at a plan to build a 123-megawatt wind turbine project in eastern Broome County, leading the Town of Sanford Board to enact a moratorium while the town’s planning board reviews the project's impact. In an often contentious confrontation between pro and con forces Tuesday night, the five-member board heard nearly 90 minutes of comments from more than a dozen speakers, with each side making often emotional appeals to sway the board. At the end, the opposition won, with the town board voting 4-0, with one abstention, to enact a stay on wind turbine development pending a town study to measure the potential impacts on "public health, safety and welfare, as well as other resources of the Town of Sanford."

Madison Cty BOS approves a zoning ordinance restricting utility-scale solar to industrial-zoned land

On Aug. 1, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled in favor of a coalition of nine conservation organizations, led by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge, invalidating rules adopted in 2017 by the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council. The decision is expected to invalidate two, among others, controversial power projects — the Perennial Wind Chaser Station in Umatilla County and the Summit Ridge Wind Farm in Wasco County.

The Chautauqua County Legislature approved two motions unanimously that go against policies being passed by state officials. On Wednesday, one of the motions was in opposition to construct wind turbine farms on Lake Erie. During last month’s legislature meeting, Robert Bankoski, D-Dunkirk, and Kevin Muldowney, R-Dunkirk, spoke about their opposition to the possibility of wind turbine farms on Lake Erie. Following the meeting, Bankoski said several other legislators who represent communities along Lake Erie followed up their comments by creating a motion to to oppose wind turbines on Lake Erie. “We’re not interested and you’re not welcome here,” Bankoski said to any company who would like to build a wind turbine farm on Lake Erie.

The Henry County Planning Commission voted Tuesday night on the controversial proposal that would have added a Big Blue Ribbon Wind Farm to the area. The vote was 4-4 with one member of the commission abstaining. The proposal did not pass because a clear majority was needed.

Lincoln Cty loses appeals court litigation filed by citizens opposing Strata Solar's proposed solar plant. Application originally filed in 2013

Three years of fighting against a wind power proposal paid off for neighbors Tuesday night when the Zoning Board of Review voted unanimously to reject a 462.5-foot wind turbine off Old Smithfield Road. The project, first submitted in late 2015 and brought back for review in March, involved installing a 1.5-megawatt wind turbine on land owned by Ruth Pacheco at 810 Old Smithfield Road. The proposal has drawn heavy criticism from neighbors who cite concerns about noise and the “shadow flicker” effect caused by the spinning blades, along with the impact on property values and quality of life.

Reno County commissioners Thursday did not unanimously agree to move plans for a proposed wind farm forward. That vote had to be unanimous to keep Next Era Energy's plans to put more than 80 turbines at a site in southeast Reno County north of Cheney Lake and south of Haven.