The Salt Lake Tribune

Parowan - No one was blown away by the latest version of the Iron County wind ordinance, designed to regulate future development of wind resources for energy. But there were no major objections, either.

About 50 residents of the southwestern Utah county attended the County Commission meeting Monday to voice concerns over proposed modifications to an existing ordinance.

The county's community planner, Todd Stowell, said the major changes in the new version of the ordinance are:

It would create an overlay zone streamlining the permitting process for commercial energy projects by not requiring a zone change. A conditional use permit would still be required.

It would protect scenic view standards by limiting concentrations of towers in areas like mountain sides.

It would not allow commercial towers within three miles of an urban area or national park or monument.

Many in attendance voiced concerns about a commercial wind project proposed for New Harmony Mountain on the Washington County line. One resident said erosion from potential construction could cause flooding in the community of New Harmony and would be too noisy.

Commissioner Lois Bulloch, who is working with the Planning Commission on the proposed ordinance, said the New Harmony proposal would be permitted by the Bureau of Land Management and would not be subject to Iron County's ordinance.

Kay Carter, a Kannaraville Town Council member, worried about the possibility of turbines causing fires and wondered if access for fire engines would be required.

Bulloch wants answers to Carter's questions and those of other residents. The commission postponed adopting the ordinance until it could be fine tuned.

Stowell said Iron County's proposal deviates from a wind ordinance model prepared by the state, particularly concerning noise decibels, but said he has to balance community concerns with the state recommendations.

Sara Baldwin, senior policy and research associate with Utah Clean Energy, warned that Iron County should not make its ordinance too complicated or restrictive. She said the state's model is based on science from credible sources and input from many state agencies.

"Developers of wind energy have a long list or requirements to comply with, so an ordinance can make or break a project," Baldwin said. "We commend the county's hard work on complex issues and ... hope it ends well in attracting responsible development and leads to new opportunities for the area."

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