Pennington County Planning Commission to review amendment to Alternative Energy ordinance

It is a review at the  Pennington County Planning Commission of an amendment to the Alternative Energy Ordinance. The Commission meeting starts at 9 am, we are not sure when it will end. The Ordinance is item # 17 on the Agenda, so likely not heard promptly at 9 am.   Check with staff for an estimate of when it will be discussed.

It will also likely end up for review at full Commission meeting eventually.  Thus this won’t be the last opportunity for review and comment,   For adoption of ordinances >>the full Commission must consider them twice (two readings – two hearings at full Commission are pending.)

The National Audubon Society (NAS)  wants all of NAS’s chapters  to work on fighting climate change. . Climate change is very bad for birds and alternative energy mitigates climate change. Conversely wind energy facilities, if improperly sited can cause excess bird deaths.  Large solar installations, standing over prairie dog towns, would likely reduce prairie dog numbers: solar installations can displace prairie dogs, make habitats hostile, and restrict movement due to fencing and new roads. This could be bad for black-footed ferrets (an endangered species found in Pennington County), if ferrets were using those impacted towns.  Thus there needs to be limits on locations in the ordinance. I have not read it yet.

Link to agenda of Planning Commission, meets at 9 am.

Meeting packet, for Ordinance – see pages 149-220

Current Planning Commission Members

• Lori Litzen [2027]
• Mikal Lewis  [2026]
• Matt Schmahl  [2028]
• John Santana  [2028]    
• Charlie Johnson [2026]
• Kevin Kuehn [2027]