By Laura Collins
On October 23, in a move that challenged every presumption one may have about rural counties’ attitudes towards zoning, Wibaux County Commissioners voted in favor of county-wide zoning to prevent wind energy development.
Land use regulations — especially zoning — often face fierce resistance in rural areas where the protection of private property rights drives strong opposition to any government regulation. County-wide zoning is usually seen as an increase in government overreach and red tape, and runs counter to the rural Montana conservative, anti-big government ethos.
Very few Montana counties have successfully implemented county-wide zoning. Not even large counties with growing populations, such as Gallatin and Missoula, have adopted county-wide land use regulations. Wibaux County is 53rd in terms of population size of Montana’s 56 counties and has chosen to voluntarily shrink personal freedoms and limit economic opportunities for private landowners, the county, and the state. Unfortunately, the decision appears to be motivated by a targeted effort to block wind and solar energy projects.
In a place where fossil fuel industries have strong support, Wibaux County’s new ordinance is a stand against a rare economic development opportunity and rapidly changing energy landscape. For generations, Wibaux County has been largely an agricultural economy, helping to feed our nation. But as pressures on agriculture continue to grow and become more unpredictable, the opportunity to have value-added revenue from their land (i.e. wind turbines) offers a much-needed lifeline.
Montana Farmers Union voiced support for the development of alternative energy sources and the rights of families to utilize these revenue streams to support agricultural operations, warning that, “Wibaux County is sending a clear message that alternative energy is unwelcome and that the county is closed for business to alternative energy.”
Montana has the second-best wind resource in the nation and most of the opportunity for clean energy development lies in Eastern Montana. Counties that have supported wind development have seen an increased tax base and jobs while the State has seen increased revenues. A comment submitted by the Montana Chamber of Commerce urged that “there are countless examples of zoning regulations that protect communities,” but “the proposed zoning will lead to unintended consequences and undercut economic opportunities both in Wibaux and the state of Montana.”
It’s extremely unfortunate that Wibaux County is choosing to turn down millions in tax revenue, employment opportunities, and much-needed economic development that would have bolstered public services, infrastructure, emergency services, and schools. By blocking renewable energy projects, they are turning down millions of dollars of investments and tax revenue that could have benefitted the county for decades.
Perhaps more troubling is that Wibaux County adopted its ordinance with support from several neighboring counties on either side of the state line. Fueled by an out-of-state law firm that represented the Bundys in their rebellion against public land management, Wibaux joins a growing number of counties nationwide where local governments are implementing highly restrictive policies that block the development of wind and solar energy projects. Counties in North Dakota have already passed similar regulations blocking renewable energy, with Bowman County being credited as the reference for the proposed ordinance. Government officials from Richland and Prairie counties also attended the hearing to support the ordinance and to announce that they — and other counties, such as McCone and Dawson counties — will consider adopting similar regulations designed to strangle renewable energy development across the entire region.
Elsewhere in eastern Montana, a massive renewable energy milestone is making the news. In its first 10 months of operation, the Clearwater Wind Energy Center has contributed significantly to Portland General Electric’s production of one gigawatt of wind energy in a single day, and repeated this feat 25 times in 2024. One gigawatt is enough electricity to power roughly 830,000 homes. That is almost twice the number of homes in Montana.
The message from Wibaux County and its allies is clear. They are opposed to private property rights and economic development opportunities if they stem from renewable energy proposals. Anti-renewable land use policies could have a ripple effect on the nation’s ability to transition to more affordable clean energy. By stifling renewable energy in some of the most viable regions of the nation, they are slowing much-needed progress toward carbon reduction, economic diversification, energy affordability, and energy independence. It’s not just about local land use anymore; it’s about our ability to face the global climate crisis and move toward a cleaner, more affordable and more sustainable future.
This article was published in the December 2024 issue of Down To Earth.
