By: Ryan Duey

After a previous five-hour public hearing, Dickinson County residents sat for Round 2 of potential wind farm talks in Southeast Dickinson County.   The public aired concerns during an Oct. 10 hearing in Herington, prompting the Dickinson County Planning and Zoning Commission to extend the hearing to Oct. 17.

Some farmers in the County hope the turbines will be built on their land, securing their family farms’ financial future, while others worry about quality of life.

Enel Green Power’s application for a conditional use permit for the 54,000-acre project sparked discussions, with Enel’s development manager Jon Beck addressing concerns about eminent domain, transmission lines, and turbine decommissioning. He clarified that the Hope Ridge project is unrelated to the Grain Belt Express transmission line and assured the public that funds are in place for decommissioning and road maintenance.

Beck hopes to resolve any questions and concerns before the commission decides whether the project aligns with county regulations.