Investigation into Sandhills wind farm nearly complete
For years, a proposed wind farm near the small town of Kilgore, Nebraska has sparked big debate.
By News Channel NebraskaVALENTINE, Neb. - For years, a proposed wind farm near the small town of Kilgore, Nebraska has sparked big debate. Sandhills Energy wants to build turbines in the Sandhills, roughly 25 miles west of Valentine.
On Tuesday, the Cherry County zoning administrator briefed commissioners on her investigation into whether the planned wind farm is violating zoning regulations. Zoning administrator Jane Stolzenburg was tasked with the investigation after a zoning complaint was filed against Sandhills Energy, the company behind the BSH Kilgore project. In October, a Sandhills Energy official said the company was preparing to break ground on a 14-turbine wind farm.
But opponents argue that BSH Kilgore’s conditional use permit expired in Oct. 2024. The complaint also alleges that Sandhills Energy never demonstrated it met the 12 conditions outlined in that permit, nor received permission to begin construction.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Stolzenburg told commissioners her investigation is complete. However, she hasn’t yet been able to connect with the county attorney to review her findings or the letter she plans to send to BSH Kilgore.
“I’m not sure how much I’d like to discuss since BSH Kilgore hasn’t been notified of my findings,” said Stolzenburg.
“We have to do this correctly. I feel very strongly if she’s not ready to send her letter, it’s her authority. She’ll send her letter when she’s ready,” said Cherry County Commissioner Mike McConaughey.
If the investigation finds violations, the zoning administrator could order construction to stop or pursue legal action to bring the company into compliance. This is just the latest development in a long-running controversy. The conditional use permit was originally approved back in 2019 and has faced legal challenges—eventually reaching the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the project.
However, now the question is—did the project need to be finished before the permit expired? Stay with News Channel Nebraska for the latest on this developing story.