Arkansas Ag Aviation Association Successful Enacting Legislation Keeping Wind Turbines at Bay

The Arkansas Wind Energy Development Act passed out of both the Arkansas House of Representatives and Senate last week with significant restrictions on the wind industry in Arkansas, where currently there were no such restrictions. The bill requires significant setbacks for wind turbines from aquifers, towns, property and the like which should keep aerial applicators free from them encumbering their ability to treat Arkansas agricultural land. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the bill this week putting these new restrictions on wind turbines into law.

This is a huge win for the industry in the Natural State, especially considering such setbacks never existed when the legislation was first introduced.  Thanks to the effort of the Arkansas Agricultural Aviation Association (AAAA) changes were made to protect ag aviators.  AAAA acknowledges their lobbyist, Joe Jett; Cole Hartley, Matt Woolard, Jeff Tidwell, and Seth Speight, who testified before the legislature on behalf of the industry about the bill; and Tracey and Dennie Stokes, Jeremy and Lindsay Chambers, Jeremy Folden, Darin Walton, Janet Miles, and Jacob Tidwell.