KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A huge number of people showed up to a Dickinson County planning commission meeting on Thursday night to talk about a planned wind farm project. Most of the people in the crowd are highly against what is being planned.
Commissioners got together to talk about letting a 334-megawatt wind farm be built in several townships. The Dickinson County Planning Commission meeting started in Herrington Thursday night after going over one item on the agenda: talking about a wind farm.
The board heard from people from Hope Ridge Wind Project about their plans to build a wind farm in seven Dickinson County townships. 12 News talked to a number of people who went to the meeting to share their opposition.
“Our kids should be able to see the sun rise and set without wind turbines,” said Therese Lee, who lives in Dickinson County.
Others were worried about the noise, the health risks, and the fact that the big buildings blocked their views of the sky over the countryside.
Lee said, “You can promise me there won’t be any problems without them, but you can’t promise me that once you build them.”
The people who are against the turbines are also worried about what will happen after they are built.
“Are these going to stay here for hours?” Will this business always be around? “Is it financially sound for them to shut them down?” asked Dale Anders, who lives in Dickinson County.
After the public comment period is over, planning commissioners can either say that the project should be approved with certain terms or that it should be turned down with a possible two-year delay. The officials in Dickinson County will have the last word.