County planners deny Bluestem’s wind energy permit

County planners voted unanimously Nov. 19 to recommend denying Bluestem Energy Solution’s request for a conditional use permit to build a four-tower wind energy project south of Interstate 80.
After reviewing the application in detail and considering input from an October public hearing which drew strong opposition to the proposal, planners cited a number of reasons for denying the request. The recommendation to county board members will include one specific finding of fact, citing a Wichita State University study which planners say confirmed their concerns that property values for neighboring landowners would be negatively impacted by a wind farm.
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