Concerns over wind power, regulations, and water quality raised at Cherry County public hearing

VALENTINE, Neb. - Concerns about wind, solar, and nuclear power, along with government over-regulation, were front and center at a public hearing for Cherry County’s proposed comprehensive plan. Nearly a dozen residents spoke out, highlighting their apprehensions about the plan’s scope and specificity. The plan is a key document that guides development, land use, and growth across the county. 

Some attendees felt the plan was too vague, lacking clear directives on critical issues.

“I’d like to see how you’ll handle wind, solar, and nuclear power and what your setbacks would be. Also, how about CO2 pipelines and livestock confinement regulations and setbacks? To me this is really vague,” said Dixie Hollenbeck.

Keith Marvin, a community planner and consultant for the Cherry County Planning Commission, said that it’s okay for the plan to be semi-vague. The zoning regulations will be decided after the plan.

“The nuts and bolts are yet to come. We’re setting this up as the base and policy to make sure the rules are supported by this document. The stuff that you’re talking about on wind, solar, etc., and what Cherry County is going to do about that is all to come,” said Marvin. “This is the basis for what the rules are going to be down the road, but it doesn’t write the rules.”

Still, some citizens urged the public to pay attention to the comprehensive plan because it will guide future decisions.

“What I see now is a cookie-cutter plan, and we’re not a cookie-cutter county. I ask you to reconsider what you’ve written,” said Ann Warren.

“It is supposed to be much more. The purpose of a comprehensive plan is to be a blueprint of development. This is what the zoning regulations are based on,” said Carolyn Semin. “How can we write regulations if there are not goals and policies in here?”

Semin was particularly concerned about the lack of information about nuclear power. She pointed out that Valentine is one of 16 communities that the Nebraska Public Power District is studying for feasibility of a potential nuclear power plant.

“At the open houses last year, a number of people wanted it written in the plan that wind and solar are not compatible to this area. All of this was rejected,” said Semin. “Also, confined animal feeding operations - when regulations started, this was the primary reason the citizens wanted regulations - to limit large animal feeding operations.”

Tim and Rick Marlatt, who own TK Angus and are in a legal battle with the Cherry County Board of Commissioners after the board voted down a conditional use permit for a swine finishing facility near Valentine, also expressed their concerns.

“My hope is that we don’t create rules and regulations that see the demise of what we currently have,” said Tim Marlatt. “We are at a pivotal time because we will see a major turnover of land over the next ten years. Those who are currently here need the ability to be competitive as land comes for sale.”

“There’s a lot of subjective measurements within the plan. I think it’s important that we’re objective with rules and regulations. The more subjective opens up room for the county to set itself up for litigation if we don’t have cut-and-dry objective regulations,” said Rick Marlatt.

Others were concerned about soil surveys, land conservation, water quality, and PFAS contamination. However, one of the most commented topics was a lack of goals and objectives in the energy section of the plan.

“Being proactive is probably better than being reactive. Solar energy is going to come down the pipe at a rate that’s going to make our head spin,” commented one citizen.

The commission voted to table decisions on the public hearing until its next meeting on Sept. 10, 2024.