Prairie County commissioners deny Glendive Wind LLC approach applications amid public concern

Prairie County commissioners voted Sept. 17 to sign and deny approach applications submitted by Glendive Wind LLC (associated in discussion with NextEra), after public comment and attorney guidance raised questions about whether the materials described approaches or encroachments and whether private-property permission had been secured.

Commissioner Todd Devlin said the county could not give permission to enter private property. "We cannot give permission to go onto private property," he told residents during the meeting.

County Attorney Dan Rice advised the commission that the applications were confusing and recommended allowing supplemental documentation before returning fees and requiring resubmission. "They submitted very confusing materials," Rice said, and "we should have allowed supplemental documentation to support the application instead of returning the money and having them resubmit."

Public commenters at the meeting raised multiple concerns. Reene Pirtz said some applicants appeared to be submitting false permits and that submissions did not account for species protection or livestock. "These applications don't seem to consider protecting species, cattle," Pirtz said. Arron Martinson asked whether the county or the applicant would install approaches and whether inspection fees would cover multiple inspection trips; Commissioner Dennis Teske described the current process and said landowners may install approaches with permission and supervision from the road department.

Teske also said he favored requiring permits rather than relying on agreements with NextEra and repeatedly flagged that some of the submissions appeared to seek rights beyond what the application form authorized. After discussion, the commission denied all of the applications as submitted and directed staff to return fees with an explanation.

The denial does not preclude the developer from submitting clarified or supplemental materials. County officials discussed seeking clarification from NextEra's counsel; Dan Rice said he had reached out for clarification but that correspondence had gone to a staff member on vacation.

The meeting record shows sustained public opposition to aspects of wind development, including concerns about road easements, night-sky impacts and emergency response in low-coverage areas. Commissioners also referenced recent communications with federal officials; Shane Eaton asked for a summary of Commissioner Devlin's recent meetings in Washington, D.C., with the Department of the Interior and BLM.