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Dickinson County Board approves RedRock Wind conditional use with bond, ADLS and staging conditions
Summary
After extensive public comment and rebuttal from the applicant, the Dickinson County Board of Adjustment approved a conditional-use permit for the RedRock Wind Project (up to 67 turbines, ~300 MW) with conditions requiring bond/financial security before construction, installation of ADLS if FAA approves that measure, and an alternate staging area to be reviewed by the county engineer (vote 5-0).
The Dickinson County Board of Adjustment voted 5-0 to approve a conditional-use permit for the RedRock Wind Project, a proposed 300-megawatt development of up to 67 wind turbines across multiple townships, subject to three conditions negotiated by the board: (1) bond or other financial security must be in place before construction begins; (2) an aircraft detection lighting system (ADLS) requirement must be installed if the FAA approves that technology for the project; and (3) an alternate staging area must be researched and reviewed by the county engineer.
Joseph Crowley, representing RedRock/Invenergy, presented the application and described projected local revenue for schools and county tax receipts, emergency-response protocols, road-use agreements and a decommissioning plan. Crowley said the company’s materials ‘‘meet the application checklist’’ and that turbine foundations would be removed down to about 4 feet during decommissioning, based on geotechnical guidance. Applicant counsel Samantha Norris and company representatives answered detailed questions from board members about decommissioning financial assurances, aviation and ADLS filings, dust control for roads, the handling of 30,000 gallons of turbine oil on site, and local hiring goals for construction.
Opponents mounted an extended public-comment period. Jamie Hunter, attorney for Dickinson County Concerned Citizens, urged denial, cited an Emmet County Board of Adjustment denial of a similar project and raised issues including sound, shadow flicker and recycling/decommissioning. Residents also raised property-value concerns, road impacts, and emergency/fire response capability for 600-foot towers. The applicant emphasized that road damage would be covered and cited a $5 million liability for road impacts; Crowley stated the company would set financial assurance aside and review decommissioning agreements every 36 months.
Board members debated technical safeguards and enforcement language before Westerman moved to approve the conditional use with the three stipulations; Kirby Berhow seconded and the motion passed unanimously (Ashland, Clark, Oponski, Westerman and Berhow). The board recorded no abstentions. Approved conditions leave specific financial-assurance mechanisms, the ADLS filing/approval path, and staging-area alternatives to be resolved in permitting and plan review with county staff and the county engineer.
