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Residents press for moratorium on large energy projects; county restructures 765kV subcommittee
Summary
Residents urged an immediate moratorium on wind, solar and a proposed 765kV transmission line; the commission restructured its 765kV subcommittee to two commissioners and three Planning & Zoning members to streamline meetings.
Multiple residents raised concerns about proposed energy infrastructure on Aug. 4, urging the commission to pause filings while the county establishes new rules.
"Asked the commission for an immediate temporary ordinance or moratorium to halt all energy companies from filing to build in Brookings County until new ordinances have been established," resident T. Sue Engelmann said, listing the proposed 765kV transmission line, NextEra’s planned solar complex and a nearby battery farm among her concerns. Rufus DeZeeuw told commissioners that he and other landowners had turned down approaches from Invenergy, Doral LLC and Xcel Energy and warned against the "industrialization of Brookings County." Patty DeZeeuw urged a moratorium because she feared the subcommittee would not finish meaningful work before a filing to the Public Utilities Commission.
In response, the board unanimously approved a motion to restructure the county's 765kV Subcommittee to include two Brookings County commissioners and three Planning & Zoning members. States Attorney Dan Nelson said the new structure "will make the meetings more efficient." The action does not impose a moratorium; no county moratorium was passed at the meeting.
