Around 60 local residents came out Monday morning for the regular Brown County Commission meeting to hear from a wind energy company developer.
The meeting had been moved to the third floor court room, as a larger crowd was expected to hear information on wind energy developments.
The topic has been a hot one in recent months as wind energy companies have developed areas in Nemaha County and are working toward building in Brown County. This has caused some concern with local landowners as they have been approached by developers. Commissioners have cautioned county residents to check with their individual attorneys and not make hasty decisions.
On Monday, Nat Drucker, Invenergy Product Developer on the Pony Express Wind Energy project, spoke to the county commissioners and before the audience about his company’s interest in expanding into Brown County. He noted this would be the first of many meetings where he would be addressing the commissioners, along with scheduling public forums. Drucker said he is currently working on approaching land owners and creating agreements and surveys. He said this will take up most of the year and mentioned there were no plans for any further construction in 2019. He noted the company had completed some minor earthwork and laid a concrete surface near Morrill, but stressed that the company did not plan to place a wind turbine there. He said it was the minimal earthwork required to create a hold on federal incentives.
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)