The Reno County Planning Commission Thursday heard public input on a proposed wind farm for land in the southeast part of the county.
The Thursday afternoon-into-Thursday-night meeting provided numerous people on both sides of the argument opportunities to make their opinions heard on why a wind farm should or should not come to Reno County.
NextEra Energy Resources is the company making the proposal for an 80-turbine farm east of Pretty Prairie. NextEra says the farm would add jobs and bring millions of dollars into the local community to go toward schools, roads and first responders. It says wind energy is safe and there are no negative health effects.
Aaron Andra who lives in the proposed area for the wind farm says its benefits outweigh potential risks.
“We’ve had a pretty bad farm economy, and having a payment that’s guaranteed every single year helps with financing at the bank and puts food on the table for our families,” he says.
Others who spoke Thursday night oppose the plans, expressing concerns about the turbines’ location to homes, the impact on property values, the noise and potential health issues.
(Read more: KWCH News)