The Dickinson County board of adjustment voted last night to deny a permit to Invenergy for a wind farm just a few miles from East Lake Okoboji. That vote came after three nights of public hearings. Kris Van Kleet helped start the group Dickinson County Concerned Citizens to protest the project, and had tears streaming down the face after the vote. “God is good, that’s all I can say.” Dozens showed up in full force to say why they didn’t want turbines near their homes.
Supporters of the wind energy farm say they were stunned by the 3-1 vote against the project. Terril City Council member Austin Fairchild says the wind farm would bring benefits to the county. “Our poverty rate is over 20%. This project would have come with economic development, money, and more jobs to the area that would have been needed. I think we missed an opportunity here. I hope we appeal and win,” Fairchild says. County officials say Invenergy has 30 days to appeal the decision in court.
Van Kleet says the focus will now be on repairing relationships since many property owners signed up for the project, which included up to 80 turbines. “I pray that our community would heal, that people would forgive, and remember that we’re still neighbors and we’re still people,” she says.
Two other wind energy projects have been proposed for the Iowa Great Lakes region, and Van Kleet says she will continue to fight against turbines there.
(By Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio)