Planners send answers to commissioners

County planning commission members provided answers Thursday to questions county commissioners asked them last fall to investigate.

The questions came in response to reports that an expanded wind farm might be located in Menno, Liberty, East Branch, and West Branch townships.

In answer to one question, planners found that population density in three of the townships was similar to that in other townships that already have wind farms, but that the population of West Branch township is more dense that most other townships.

The planners’ study results show that of the four townships where Sunflower Wind hopes to expand, West Branch Township has 968 residents and a population density of 18 to 31 people per square mile, making it one of the county’s two highest-density townships.

Liberty Township has 322 residents and a population density of seven to 17.9 people per square mile, Menno Township has 313 residents and a population density of seven to 17.9 people per square mile, and East Branch Township has 202 residents and a population density of four to 6.9 people per square mile.

Planners also reported that Harvey County prohibits large wind and solar projects in its unincorporated areas. The county permits limited solar installation under specific conditions.

McPherson County has banned commercial scale solar and wind projects in unincorporated areas.

Saline County allows both wind and solar facilities.

In Dickinson County, planners recommended a two-year moratorium on solar projects to study benefits and drawbacks and develop appropriate regulation.

Planning consultant Russ Ewy told planners he saw a trend across the state to question renewable energy.

Wind turbines have less impact on groundwater than do solar farms, he said.

“Solar, if there is an event, they have more groundwater contamination,” he said. “From a contamination standpoint, solar is more problematic.”