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After heated public hearing, Pennington County directs staff to steer utility‑scale solar and wind toward industrial zones
Summary
Following several hours of public testimony for and against utility‑scale renewable projects, the Pennington County Commission voted 3–2 to direct staff to draft ordinance language that would restrict utility‑scale wind and solar to industrial zoning districts and continued the ordinance’s first reading to January for a staff redraft.
The Pennington County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday directed county staff to draft changes that would generally limit utility‑scale wind and solar energy facilities to industrial zoning districts consistent with the county’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, after a long, at‑times emotional public hearing that drew ranchers, environmental advocates and industry representatives.
The board’s direction follows several hours of testimony from landowners and neighbors who said solar farms and wind projects raise concerns about permanent land conversion, water and well impacts, road damage, decommissioning, wildlife habitat, and local fire and emergency response.…
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