Board approves conditional use
permits for electrical ties
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[November 17, 2016]
LINCOLN
- On Tuesday, November 15, 2016, the Logan County Board held its
Regular meeting, which is a voting session to decide matters. One
focus of brief discussion was two conditional use permits for
electrical projects supporting the Sugar Creek Wind Farm.
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Representing the wind farm project were Stan Komperda of American
Wind Energy, Dave Wagner of Apex Clean Energy, and Kyle Barry,
attorney for the project.
Barry said the conditional use permits were for a Gen-tie line,
which is the cord that will tie into the electric grid at Ameren's
Fogarty Switchyard and an underground collection line that will
connect one side of the project to the other.
Barry reminded the board that both the Regional Planning Commission
and Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to recommend approval
of both resolutions. He asked the board to also approve both
resolutions and said he could answer any questions they might have.
Barry thanked the board for its hard work on the applications.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Nov/17/images/ads/current/elkhart_grain_daily_sda_022614.png) In comments from the public, Donna Bishop of Atlanta said "more
information is coming out daily against wind farms." She asked the
board to do further research before making a decision by watching a
video called "Climate Hustle" and look at a website speaking against
wind farms.
Bishop said these projects are "subsidized" and with our country
several trillion dollars in debt, the wind farms just add to the
national debt. She said wind farms destroy farmlands, the
environment, and people's health, and devalues property. Bishop said
the board does not have to go along with the changes.
Board member Gene Rohlfs said these changes were not part of the
original approval in 2011, but asked the wind farm representatives
if these were the only resolutions for the hook ups.
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Barry said these are new applications, but part of the plans for the
project.
Board Chairman David Hepler said these lines were "contemplated and
specified" in what the board approved in 2011.
Barry said the original application said the applicant would return later for
approval of the gen tie line to connect the projects.
Rohlfs said that while he sees wind farms as "the embodiment of everything that
is wrong with this country," the project was approved by the county board. He
said, "to my knowledge, anyone's concerns with these resolutions have been
worked out to the board's satisfaction."
After the discussion, the board unanimously approved board member Pat O'Neill's
motions for conditional use permits for the gen tie line and the underground
collection line.
[Angela Reiners]
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