COVINGTON, Ind. — Just a couple of years ago, Indiana seemed like an unlikely candidate for large-scale commercial wind farm projects.

Now wind developments are springing up faster here than in any other state in the country.

And with a Montgomery County wind farm in the works, it looks like Fountain County too could get a piece of the renewable energy pie.

Several landowners in the northern part of the county already have signed leases with Invenergy LLC, a Chicago-based company that develops, manages and operates wind farms in North America as well as Europe.

That has prompted the Fountain County Planning Commission to work on a wind ordinance.

“Adopting a wind ordinance will be a gateway to allow this development to happen,” said Amanda Smith, Fountain County extension director and a member of the planning commission.

A wind ordinance generally regulates setbacks and the use of public roads during construction, provides guidelines for installation and decommissioning of the towers and outlines taxes or payments to the county. Smith said it also makes it easier to attract potential developers.

“Wind developers don’t like coming into a county without an ordinance because they don’t know what the rules are, and that could lead to lawsuits,” she said.

“Just look at the situation we have with the landfill.”

Benton County was the first Indiana county to adopt a wind ordinance, and about a dozen others have since followed suit. Countless others, mainly in the northern half of the state, are either considering a wind ordinance or are in the process of developing one.

The Fountain County Planning Commission is modeling its ordinance on several existing plans in nearby counties, according to Smith.

“We’re trying to keep our ordinance consistent with the surrounding counties,” she said. “Some of these wind farms cross county lines so it’s much easier for the wind developer if we have the same rules as Montgomery County.”

Only the northern part of Fountain County has enough wind capacity for commercial wind turbines to make economic sense, and in comparison with the large-scale developments in Benton County the potential for wind energy in Fountain County is probably relatively modest.

But Smith said wind energy can still bring economic development to a county that isn’t likely to attract other large-scale businesses.

“I think that wind development is one of the bigger things that can happen to this county,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for landowners to make a little extra profit, and it’s environmentally sound technology.”

Pierce McKinney, who runs a sheep-breeding operation near Wingate, was one of several landowners in the area approached by Invenergy about two years ago. After mulling the lease and discussing the proposal with his family and some fellow farmers, McKinney decided to sign.

“I don’t think (the wind towers) will be disruptive to the beauty and ambiance of the farm. I’ve always been open-minded when it comes to anything that has to do with conservation and I’m for anything that produces green energy,” he said.

“I see it as progress and I think most young people today view it as progress. We’re fighting wars internationally because of our obsession with oil, so if we can do this little thing to make us more self-sufficient and environmentally-friendly I think we should.”

The majority of Invenergy’s proposed wind farm will be located in Montgomery County, and McKinney estimated that only four or five farms in Fountain County will be affected — primarily in Richland Township.

McKinney, who potentially could have as many as five towers on his land, said the interactions with the developer have been positive so far, even though some landowners were skeptical at first.

“We found that the contract was very open-minded to the landowners,” he said. “It appears to be a very good organization.”

Smith said the planning commission probably will be ready to present a wind ordinance to the public some time after the first of the year, and she hopes it will be approved and adopted by the county commissioners by mid-spring.

In the meantime, the public can provide input and ask questions about the proposed wind ordinance during the planning commission’s regular meetings on the fourth Tuesday of every month.

“We certainly welcome public comments,” Smith said.

FYI

The public is welcome to provide input or ask questions about the proposed wind ordinance during the Fountain County Planning Commission’s regular meetings at 7 p.m. EST Nov. 24 and Dec. 22 in the commissioners’ room in the courthouse.