At the Aug. 19 meeting of the Wadena County Board, commissioners voted 3 to 2 to approve the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) requested by Russell and Susan Nystrom in June for a 1.65 MW wind turbine to be erected on their property in Section 8 of Aldrich Township.

The turbine could provide electricity for 350 homes if Todd-Wadena Electric Co-op signs an agreement to accept and distribute the electric power the turbine generates.

The application was tabled at the Aug. 3 board meeting to allow time for the county attorney to review the application and the land use ordinance and give an opinion to the board.

On Aug. 19 Commissioners Ralph Miller and Rodney Bounds voted against approval of the permit, despite the legal opinion provided by County Attorney Kyra Ladd, who told the board that there was no legal basis to deny the permit.

Ladd said, “Conditions for the permit have been met. Rodney has heard concerns from residents, but not a legal basis for denying the permit under the current ordinance as written. Its one thing to make a claim (about health issues), but evidence has not been provided. It is your duty to vote ‘yes’ because (the application) meets the requirements. In light of the concerns raised by Rodney about the (county) ordinance, (I suggest) putting a moratorium on additional projects until the ordinances can be reviewed.”

Ladd continued, “This was not the kind of project that was anticipated when the ordinance was put in place. But you can declare a moratorium after this project and go back into your ordinance and make adjustments to it.”

After considerable discussion among commissioners, Ladd, Zoning and Parks Director Deana Skov and wind turbine contractor representatives, the board agreed to place a 120-day moratorium on considering small wind energy conversion projects.

During the 120 days Skov and the county planning commission will review the existing language of the county land use ordinance and consider changes. One or more additional public hearings will be held to discuss the ordinance and hear public testimony before the ordinance changes are voted upon by the planning commission and brought before the county board.

The 120 day-moratorium would end Dec. 19.