Council Anticipates Wind Farming
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
About 16,000 acres of agricultural property in three Acadiana-area parishes including St. Landry, could eventually be transformed into wind farming operations, according to parish president Jessie Bellard.
Parish Council members voted last week to introduce an ordinance that establishes regulations and permit requirements for products and land development related to wind farming.
Bellard said during a Monday interview that wind farm developments are being planned and leases are being signed with landowners in portions of Acadia, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes.
Representatives from several companies involved in wind farming and land acquisition attended Council committee meetings last Wednesday night.
None of the persons associated with prospective wind farming projects addressed the Council.
However after the meeting several of the representatives indicated during informal St. Landry Now.com interviews that land leases associated with wind farming are scheduled to include areas near Plaisance and in the Frilot Cove west of Lawtell.
Bellard said property surrounding the Eunice area is also scheduled to be included in property leasing for the wind farming.
AES and Cordillera were identified by Bellard as the two companies that have expressed interest in securing leased property for the tri-parish wind farm development.
According to the company website, AES is currently overseeing a 14,000-acre wind farm development in Tunica County, Ms.
The website also says that wind turbines on farming property do not interfere with agricultural production of rice, soybeans, corn or wheat. Crops can be grown, according to the AES website, underneath the turbines.
Bill Rodier, executive director of the St. Landry Parish Economic and Development District, said on Monday that companies seeking to place wind farms inside the parish contacted him about a year ago.
Rodier added that no representatives from any wind farms have contacted him recently.
Bellard said the proposed ordinance is expected to undergo final discussion and possible ratification at a December meeting.
The ordinance that will be placed before the Council is an amended version of one that was passed in recent years when the parish approved solar farm operations in the Plaisance and Port Barre areas.
Bellard said the Council has been authorized to act as an Energy Board that examines the applications, permitting, concept designs, fees and reconstitution procedures for wind energy operations.
