DANIEL HUMAN, Kokomo Tribune Staff Writer

TIPTON – The Tipton County commissioners approved changes to the county’s zoning ordinance that will better prepare it for wind farms.

The Tipton Plan Commission wrote the amendment to include specifics to establish types of wind turbines, setback requirements for the towers, noise and vibration regulations and other details to better manage and accommodate the farms.

The amendment comes in response to three energy companies expressing interest in building in Tipton County.

AES Corp., E.ON Climate & Renewables North America and JW Great Lakes Wind have been surveying, and in some cases preparing leases with, properties in the county.

The plan commission amended the zoning ordinance in 2008 to accommodate wind farms. But it did so hastily to keep up with other counties. The revisions have come about now that the companies are looking at the county more closely.

Howard County passed a similar ordinance amendment in January after Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy began looking at the county.