Harvey County Commissioners have voted unanimously to ban commercial wind and utility-scale solar renewable energy projects in the county.
The vote was taken Tuesday after a meeting that focused on changes in the county’s zoning code. The changes will ban commercial wind and solar projects, while allowing limited-scale solar construction. Commissioners heard comments from county residents during the meeting, and a number of residents voiced opposition to large-scale wind and solar projects. A group called Stop the Wind Turbines was calling for approval of the ban.
Personal wind and solar energy installations, such as those used for homes, will be allowed under the new regulations.
Commissioners approved a moratorium on wind and solar energy projects last year while they considered changes in regulations, and the moratorium was extended to December 5th of this year. The new regulations will take effect when they have been published in the county’s newspaper of record.
