Moratorium on Wind Farms House committee passes wind moratorium by narrow margin

On Wednesday, the House Local Government Committee moved its meeting the Senate/House Auditorium in anticipation of the large number of people opposed to wind energy wanting to testify in favor of H561.  The bill is sponsored by Rep. Erik Simpson of Idaho Fallsand proposes a two year moratorium on construction of wind turbines and an eight member legislative committee “to adequately and thoroughly assess the wind energy sector in Idahoand make recommendations based on that assessment.”

In the bill’s statement of purpose, Rep. Simpson laid out the rationale for H 561:

“Because of the massive financial incentives offered to wind developers at the federal,state, and local levels,” he said, “wind energy development in Idaho has proliferated at an unprecedented rate. In spite of the action by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission last year, which reduced the cap to 100Kw for wind developers to qualify for the published PURPA rate, wind development in Idaho continues unabated. Simply put, the negative impacts of wind energy on wildlife,residents, property owners, taxpayers, and utilities continues to be of concern.”

The list of those wishing to testify was lengthy. All but five were against the moratorium for a variety of reasons.  Those opposing H561 included farmers and ranchers, landowners and developers from across southern Idaho. They cited economic development, jobs, and local tax dollars from thesep rojects as reasons for their opposition to the moratorium.  They were concerned about private property rights and the possibility that many projects that are already started would be stopped before completion and the investments would be lost.

The few that testified in favor of the moratorium talked of wind turbines within 600 feet of their homes, the impacts of turbine shadows, noise and their private property rights.  They felt that they were fighting international corporations and vested interests as well.

After more than three hours of testimony and numerous questions by the committee members, H561 was sent to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation on a vote of 6-5.