The Henderson County Fiscal Court Tuesday approved an $80,000 request to fund consultants for upcoming public hearings regarding wind turbines.
The request came from Henderson City-County Planning Commission Executive Director Brian Bishop, who said he is in the process of finding consultants to present testimony on the topics that will be covered over a series of seven planned meetings.
Bishop said the funding should be enough to find consultants for each of the meetings (which are listed at the end of the article).
Because of the attention and emotion the wind turbine proposal has garnered in the county, Bishop said he’s very much trying to find consultants who can provide the most unbiased perspectives as possible.
He’s worked with the planning commission’s assistant director, Jennifer Allen, in searching out consultants and has also discussed with the planning commission’s executive committee.
The process has involved researching different consultants and looking at their past publications as well as past presentations made to other groups.
Local residents will also provide testimony and comment during the hearings.
At the end of the public hearings, the planning commission will make a recommendation on an ordinance regarding wind turbines which will be passed to the Henderson County Fiscal Court to consider.
The first public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 18 in the Fiscal Court Courtroom in the Old Courthouse. All meetings will be held in the Fiscal Court Courtroom to accommodate the projected higher attendance.
The current dates of the public hearings are listed below. Bishop has said that meeting topics could be moved by the planning commission as the schedule is fluid.
- Noise, vibration and shadow flicker: 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Land use and siting criteria: 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 20, 2026
- Environmental and ecological impacts: 6 p.m., Wednesday, July 15, 2026
- Health and annoyance impact review: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026
- Safety, engineering and infrastructure: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026
- Regulatory and administrative framework: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027
- Post draft ordinance public engagement and transparency: 6 p.m., March 17, 2027
