Public Commenter Challenges Wind Energy Agreement — Says Exhibit G Contradicts County Ordinance

From the Blackford County Commissioner meeting on August 3, 2026

A public commenter identified as Deb raised detailed legal concerns about Exhibit G of the Economic Development Agreement between Blackford County and RWE, a wind energy company.

The commenter argued that Exhibit G contradicts the county's existing ordinance in several ways: it states special exemptions will be granted for two years with a four-year extension, while the current ordinance sets a one-year term. It includes a 30-hour-per-year limit on shadow flickering for non-participating structures — a provision the commenter said does not exist in the current ordinance and has no enforcement mechanism.

The commenter contended that the commissioners cannot legally amend an ordinance through an EDA without going through the Blackford County Area Planning Commission process and cannot overturn a BZA special exception decision — but Exhibit G effectively does both. She also noted the exhibit was "written according to the recommendations of RWE" as referenced on page six of the document.

Commissioner Lancaster responded that Exhibit G "wasn't an amendment to the ordinance" but rather "provisions in the EDA." He acknowledged the wording needs correction, saying "some of the concept or wording might not be accurate and we're working on correcting that." Lancaster said attorneys are working on revisions and that the provisions were intended to strengthen protections and "can never be less than what the current ordinance is."

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County Commissioner Meeting, August 3, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.