SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Planning Director Mark Vonachen says that a piece of legislation making its way through the House won’t have any effect on a public hearing regarding the NextEra wind project.

House Bill 2273 says there must be at least a mile and a half between wind farms and surrounding homes. Residents in Reno County have been expressing concerns over the amount of distance between their homes and the NextEra proposal. This bill could provide some relief for them. Vonachen says that he is watching the legislation, but it won’t change anything when it comes to the public hearing April 4:

 

 

Reno County residents had asked for a moratorium on wind energy until more study could be done on the effects of wind energy. The commission instead handed the matter over to the planning department. Sedgwick County Commissioners recently passed a moratorium on wind and solar farms for a period of six months.

NextEra Energy Resources submitted a permit to build a wind farm in Pretty Prairie last Friday.