Neosho County wind project arguments focus on setbacks

Concerned residents of southern Neosho County on Thursday evening wanted to get back to the basics of their argument against a proposed wind energy project — the setbacks.

Lori Whitworth said during a regular county commission meeting that people concerned about the potential Neosho Ridge Wind energy project are just seeking responsible siting of the over 139 turbines measuring more than 600 feet tall.

Whitworth said the county should require setbacks in a road-use agreement that would force Apex Clean Energy, the project’s developer, to build turbines far enough away from nonparticipating properties to allow people to continue enjoying and using their land, to negate a potential loss of property value, and to allow people to live in their homes without health effects.

“I feel like we keep trying to get pulled into things we don’t want to argue about,” Dustie Elsworth said.

Elsworth, who along with Whitworth was on the commission’s agenda, said his main concern is requiring Apex to build its turbines a minimum distance from lakes and wetlands so they don’t disturb fowl.