Elbert County approves three meteorological towers for wind data collection with conditions

The Elbert County Board of County Commissioners on June 11 approved three special‑use by review (SUR) applications to allow installation of three meteorological towers (MET towers) intended to collect wind and environmental data that could support future wind projects in the county.

The board approved separate SURs for the Worrell property (SUR20240109), the Hurtnecki property (SUR20240114) and the Chambers property (SUR202402490). The planning commission had recommended approval with conditions; staff and referral agencies reported no objections to the tower installations provided the sites meet supplemental standards and federal aviation requirements.

Why it matters: MET towers are temporary instruments used to gather wind speed and environmental data ahead of potential wind energy development. Although low impact and unmanned, the structures exceed 120 feet and thus require special‑use approvals to ensure setbacks, aviation safety and livestock protection are handled properly.

Staff said the three towers would be installed on separate agricultural parcels in rural areas roughly three to 10 miles from the nearest towns. The tallest tower (Hurtnecki) is 81.3 meters and will be painted and lit in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules; the other two are 60 meters. Staff said the towers will be anchored with guy wires and protected with exclusionary fencing around anchor points and bases; grading and vegetation removal are not anticipated.

The planning commission recommended the following core conditions, which staff incorporated into the approvals: removal of public hearing signs within 14 days of decision; SURs do not become effective until fees are paid and the SUR exhibit is recorded (including a 2% construction fee payable to Elbert County); recordation within 180 days; and adherence to FAA, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) regulations for the life of the tower. Staff also highlighted the applicant’s use of best practices from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s bird‑friendly communication tower guidance.

Applicant Matthew Pagan of Hildswen LLC told the board the towers are low impact and that the company had worked with neighbors and agencies during the referral period. When asked about decommissioning, Pagan said the applicant would agree to decommission towers “no more than 120 days after the life of the lease,” while noting uncertainty about precise timelines to collect required data.

Commissioner Schroeder objected to adding a decommissioning requirement and a fixed five‑year time limit on the SUR, saying those terms would insert the county into private contract disputes between landowners and applicants and create enforcement burdens for the county. Schroeder said the county can review SUR compliance and revoke entitlements where appropriate rather than impose fixed business timelines.

The board voted to approve each SUR in separate motions; each motion passed with the board’s affirmative votes. The public hearing was then closed for all three items.

Approved conditions and staff recommendations will be part of the recorded SUR exhibits and must be satisfied before the SURs become effective.