Reno County Commission Chairman Bob Bush expressed anger and disappointment Tuesday about the introduction of a bill at the Capitol last week that would set statewide minimum setbacks from homes and public property for commercial wind turbines unless waived by a property owner.
Calling the bill “an attack at us directly” and “incredible state overreach,” Bush was referring to House Bill 2273, which the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee – chaired by Rep. Joe Seiwert, R-Pretty Prairie — was hearing this week.
The committee was scheduled to hear from those in favor of the proposal on Tuesday and opponents of the bill on Thursday. The latter hearing was added last Friday after word about the bill was more widely disseminated, and the speaker list grew.
“This was introduced Monday, and our commission meeting was Tuesday, but we didn’t hear about this until Wednesday when the chamber contacted the county administrator to forward the bill to the commission and ask for our comments,” Bush complained.
“I’m disappointed the way this was presented,” he said. “It didn’t’ just show up out of the blue… This information has been circulating for a while, but no one brought it to the Reno County Commission. It’s very disingenuous to submit a bill Monday and not let us know. ”
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)