KOTA Territory NewsTowns scramble to make ordinances as wind energy catches on

Towns scramble to make ordinances as wind energy catches on

Makenzi Henderson

Gov. Mike Rounds says he wants 20 percent of South Dakota's power to come from wind energy by 2030.  And places like, Lawrence County, are working on wind turbine ordinances to help achieve that goal.  But those regulations will only apply to property outside of city limits.

That's why Spearfish city planners are working on their own preliminary wind turbine regulations.  They say they want to combine current ordinances from other cities and new ones they make, to customize the most appropriate regulation for the city.

Spearfish city planners said it should take four to six weeks to plan an ordinance that focuses on regulating turbines' visual impact.

"What we're trying to do is balance that need for renewable energy resources in South Dakota with what we consider to be our most premiere resource, and that is the scenic beauty of the Black Hills.  Not an easy problem to solve," Jayna Watson, the Spearfish city planner said. 

Wind energy is a relatively new idea in Kota Territory, but now many counties and towns are scrambling to make wind turbine ordinances, after many residents asked to build private turbines on their properties, and every South Dakota school district was asked to consider putting one on their campuses.