Proposed St. Joseph County wind farm concerns

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — There are new details about a potential wind farm development in St. Joseph County.

St. Joseph County Commissioner Tony Hazen saying a meeting was held with the developer of the project: UKA Group.

He says the company is looking for five to ten thousand acres of land.

But the exact area developers want to use is still undetermined.

People living in the area raising concerns about the project as well, saying they do not want to lose what they say is precious farmland.

“I think that we’re wasting a resource putting green energy, be it solar or wind, on any extremely productive farmland. The one thing you got to remember, we can live without electricity, but we cannot live without food,” resident Millard Clauss said.

Commissioners raising the alarm after homeowners received a letter notifying them about the wind farm proposal.

They say that letter told residents county officials had already been made aware of the project, when they actually hadn’t.

“I just believe if I’m going to deal with a company or deal with anybody, I’m going to tell them the truth and I’m not going to go underhanded and behind peoples backs. That’s just not the way to go about things in this world. That’s the way it is now, but I will get the word out to make sure everyone knows,” Val Clauss said.

Hazen says while the project is in the exploratory stages, not contacting county leaders at the start hurts developers.

“I don’t think they’re anywhere close to getting it done. Plus they have to get a use variance to even get it through. And I don’t think it will go through. And we advised them on that too, that they have an uphill climb,” Commissioner Hazen said.

WSBT 22 has reached out to UKA group asking for more information on the proposal and where specifically they are looking to build within the county.

WSBT 22 is waiting to hear back.