News editor
Windborne Energy has applied for a permit to expand the area for its planned wind farm between Aulne, Peabody, and Florence.
Rex Savage said the requested expansion is to give more space around planned turbines to protect downwind turbines from wind vortexes caused by turbines upwind. The proposal is not to add to the planned number or size of turbines.
Windborne Energy plans to build 118 turbines with a maximum capacity of 200 megawatts. A letter submitted with the permit application said the current application isn’t the final step — more is likely to come later.
The wind farm would be in a wind energy overlay district created by the county in 2004. It is generally bounded by 140th Rd. on the north, Pawnee Rd. on the west, and U.S. 77 on the east. The southern boundary is 70th Rd. between Pawnee and Remington Rds. and 50th Rd. between Remington Rd. and U.S. 77.
Marion County Planning Commission will have a public hearing on the application at 7:30 p.m. April 24 in the Marion Community Center. The hearing will include an opportunity for public comments.
At the end of the hearing, the Planning Commission may make a decision on the application or continue consideration until a later meeting.