Planning commission votes against Kansas wind farm project

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A proposed central Kansas wind farm has gotten some bad news after weeks of hearings.

KAKE-TV reports that the Reno County Planning Commission voted 4-3 Tuesday to recommend denying the Next Era proposal near Cheney Lake. The Reno County Commission will make the final decision. They could still say yes to the project.

Members spent hours debating locations and distance recommendations for the proposal. The company also submitted a new plan, which eliminated a few of the proposed windmills and moved others.

Critics have raised concerns that the wind farm could hurt property values, generate noise and kill birds that fly into turbines.