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Jerome County workshop signals move to restrict windmills as commissioners, staff and residents weigh BESS and solar rules
Summary
At a March 23 workshop, outside consultant Gary Armstrong urged clear, yes/no code; commissioners prioritized water and security and indicated they do not favor windmills. Public comment urged neutral research on BESS/solar safety, and industry speakers said local power demand supports planning for storage and generation.
Jerome County held a Planning & Zoning workshop March 23 to discuss proposed energy ordinance language and how the county should treat large‑scale energy projects including wind, solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Gary Armstrong, introduced as Madison County’s administrative director with three decades of planning experience, told the group that good code is "very clear, easy to understand, and applicable," and urged more yes/no definitions rather than many conditional permits. Armstrong said Madison County does not allow solar energy facilities and that its wind ordinance sets a total height cap of 350 feet. He offered to serve as a neutral resource during Jerome County’s ordinance drafting.
Commissioner Art Watkins said he is "totally against wind" and questioned whether solar and BESS are right for Jerome County, citing concerns about aquifer protection and unfamiliar technologies. Chairman Ben Crouch said the county’s first priorities should be security, protecting water, and centering agriculture in the comprehensive plan.
During public comment residents and stakeholders stressed the need for neutral, reputable information about BESS and solar. Becky Dean asked for balanced pros‑and‑cons research and said she would "be totally against any project that would need to pull large amounts of water" unless water was treated and returned. Aaron Menenberg, a policy manager for a Boise company, urged the board to consider long‑range demand studies and recommended planning for BESS, solar and natural gas to meet expected growth, saying Jerome "is well above the average need for local areas for power." Idaho Power staff also offered to share experience with different facility types.
The board signaled it favors a clear ordinance that could preclude windmills and asked planning staff to provide vetted resources on BESS and solar; commissioners and P&Z agreed to homework assignments and to reconvene with a public agenda for further ordinance drafting.
