Marshall County approves conditional-use permits for wind project testing and aircraft-detection lighting

Marshall County supervisors voted Oct. 22 to approve a series of conditional-use permits for infrastructure tied to a proposed wind-energy development, including an aircraft detection lighting system and two temporary meteorological towers.

Jill Ingram, identified in the record as the project developer for MidAmerican Energy, described an aircraft detection lighting system (ADLS) proposed for the Vienna wind-energy project that will keep turbine lights off except when a low-flying aircraft approaches (Ingram said the system activates at about 3 nautical miles and returns lights to off once the aircraft departs). Ingram also noted the lights will automatically re-enable if the ADLS tower itself is damaged until repairs are complete. The board approved the permit for the ADLS (CUP 2025CUP6029) and authorized the chair to sign.

County zoning staff then presented two separate permits for temporary meteorological evaluation towers (CUP 6030 and CUP 6031) to measure wind speed and atmospheric conditions. Tyler Kelly, identified as Marshall County zoning staff, introduced the requests. Jackson Fraley, identified in the record as representing the developer (record contains both the names "Scout Energy" and "Stout Clean Energy" for the company), said the project has signed approximately 35 lease agreements covering about 11,000 acres so far and could ultimately sign roughly 30,000 acres to be viable. Fraley said buildout would depend on a not-yet-built transmission line targeted for around 2032 and estimated earliest construction in about that year.

Fraley offered preliminary local-impact estimates: he told the board the project could generate roughly $1 million to $3 million per year in county tax revenue, and approximately $2 million to $4 million per year for participating landowners; he emphasized the figures were early estimates and the project is still in study phases. Fraley also said the temporary MET towers would be under 200 feet (not requiring FAA lighting) and would remain at least two years to collect data, sometimes staying up until construction begins.

Supervisors asked about tax treatment and special valuation for temporary structures; Fraley said he would confirm tax details with his tax professionals. Marshall County Assessor Blaze Ware asked about valuation and was told project staff would follow up.

The board approved both MET-tower permits and the ADLS permit by roll call vote.

The permits approved are local approvals to allow testing and an ADLS; any later, larger construction would require additional permits and approvals, including siting, building and transmission decisions that project representatives said depend on future transmission availability.