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Traverse County adopts changes to solar, battery and wind ordinances; vote 3-1
Summary
The Board adopted the March 11 versions of the Solar and Battery Energy Storage System Ordinance and the Wind Energy Ordinance with amendments: reduce minimum parcel size from 80 to 40 acres, alter decommissioning financial-assurance schedule, and restore a one-mile turbine separation clause; the motion passed 3-1 with Chair Jerrel Olson opposed.
Traverse County adopted amended Solar and Battery Energy Storage System and Wind Energy ordinances at the March 18 meeting after revisions and debate. Zoning Administrator Ben Oleson presented the Planning Commission’s recommendations. Commissioner Kayla Schmidt rescinded an earlier motion, then moved to adopt the March 11 version with specific changes; Commissioner Dwight Nelson seconded. The motion passed 3-1, with Chair Jerrel Olson voting no.
Key changes approved: the minimum contiguous parcel size was reduced from 80 acres to 40 acres; the decommissioning financial-assurance requirement was altered from "three times the individually estimated decommissioning cost for each WTG at issuance of a permit" to "one and a half times up front followed by another 0.5 times at year 5"; and the Wind Turbine Location provision was reinserted specifying that "No wind turbine shall be constructed within one mile of another wind turbine, so as to allow aerial spraying to continue unimpeded," with a variance possible if a neighboring landowner shows material adverse effects on aerial spraying or other farm operations.
The Board also approved summary ordinances unanimously on a separate motion. Staff will update ordinance files and notify affected parties of the adopted changes.
