By Carol Anders Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — A proposed amendment to a Marshall County Zoning Ordinance concerning the erection of wind energy conversion systems (WECS) was the main topic of discussion at last night’s Marshall County Plan Commission meeting.
Plan Director Ralph Booker had presented information at previous meetings on the matter that he had gathered from other Indiana counties. 

The proposed amendment includes the following information: “A wind energy conversion system (WECS) is defined as equipment that converts and then stores or transfers energy from the wind into usable forms of energy and includes any base, blade, foundation, generator, nacelle, rotor, wind tower, transformer, turbine, vane, wind farm collection system, wire or other component used in the system.”
 Booker briefed the commission on the definitions of large, micro and small wind systems.
A wind farm is also defined in the amendment as: “Two or more large wind systems on a single property or aggregated properties.”
Commission President Dennis Thornton made it clear that he considers time of the essence in getting an amendment on the books.
Thornton said, “I’m concerned about getting this (proposed amendment) to the commissioners as soon as possible.”
The earliest date that the commissioners could consider the amendment would be Oct. 20 since there are time requirements for publicizing a notice.
Thornton told his fellow commission members that the county had issued the first wind system permit last week.
After the meeting, Booker said, “The only criteria that I could find in considering the permit  application were the structure and permanent foundation requirements.”
During the meeting, Booker commented that the permit was issued to someone who has expressed his intention to erect a total of 30 towers in Marshall and St. Joseph Counties. Booker added, “Fourteen of the 30 could be in Marshall County.”
If the amendment is adopted, the Plan Commission would have the authority to review, approve, conditionally approve, and disapprove applications for WECS facilities.
The general approval standards and application procedures are also a part of the amendment.
Thornton said they had met with John Vialard, Marshall County REMC energy advisor, and John and Judith Stone, of  Custom Tower Systems, to hear their opinions on the matter prior to the drafting of the proposed amendment  
The Plan Commission unanimously approved granting a favorable recommendation to the Marshall County Commissioners.