Across the heart of Indiana, where open farmland and small towns define the landscape, the question of wind energy has become a defining issue for local governments and landowners alike. Supporters call it a clean and profitable use of land. Critics see it as an industrial intrusion on some of the best agricultural soil in the Midwest.
In counties surrounding Frankfort — from Boone and Hamilton to Tipton, Carroll, and Hendricks — the debate over where wind turbines belong, and how tall or close they can be built, has grown into one of the most complex land-use conversations in Indiana.
Balancing clean energy and rural character is tricky. Wind developers have long eyed Indiana’s flat terrain and strong seasonal winds as ideal for new renewable projects. But while the state already hosts large-scale wind farms in Benton, White, and Jay counties, central Indiana’s communities have been far less welcoming.
Here in the core of the state, where rich black soil has supported generations of family farms, local governments are pushing back — not necessarily against renewable energy, but against the scale and siting of the projects themselves.
In Hamilton County, one of Indiana’s fastest-growing areas, planners put guardrails in place years ago. The county’s Unified Development Ordinance includes strict height and setback rules for what it calls Wind Energy Conversion Systems — or WECS.
Those limits weren’t drafted on a whim. They came after residents and local officials raised concerns about noise, shadow flicker, and the changing visual landscape as turbines grew larger. Hamilton’s rules essentially make it impossible to build a utility-scale wind project without a special exemption, and even then, county planners retain the authority to deny a proposal that doesn’t fit the rural character of the land.
Boone county has a moratorium too. But they went further. In April of 2024, commissioners adopted a countywide moratorium on new wind and solar projects in unincorporated areas. The move came after months of public debate and concern over the rapid pace of renewable proposals. Boone’s leaders said the pause was necessary to give the county time to rewrite its zoning ordinances and to ensure that future energy projects align with its long-term development plans. For now, that moratorium effectively closes the door on any new turbine construction, no matter the size or scale.
South of Boone, Hendricks County has also made its position clear. A developer, Cordelio Power, had proposed the “Walnut Hills” wind project in Eel River Township, a plan that could have brought as many as 60 turbines to the western part of the county.
Local officials and residents voiced strong opposition, citing noise, aesthetics, and safety concerns. County leaders later declared that they would not support rezoning for wind energy anywhere in Hendricks County. The message was unmistakable: large-scale wind farms are not welcome within its borders.
North and east of Clinton County, similar decisions have taken shape. Carroll County has extended its own moratorium on wind and solar projects several times while reworking its land-use code. Tippecanoe County has effectively banned new wind farms since 2019, citing compatibility issues with residential growth and local infrastructure.
Howard County, just north of Tipton, enacted a wind moratorium years ago following complaints tied to the Wildcat Wind Farm that spans several counties. Tipton County itself, home to part of that same project, later tightened its setback rules, effectively closing the door on any new turbine phases.
As a result, much of the region surrounding Clinton County has become off-limits to new wind development.
What’s emerging is a patchwork map of Indiana energy policy. Some counties in the north — Benton, White, and Jay — have embraced wind energy and host hundreds of turbines. Others in central Indiana have either paused or outright prohibited new projects.
In Clinton County, officials have not moved forward with any new wind applications.
The state’s “Wind Energy Ready Communities” program, designed to help local governments prepare for renewable projects, has seen uneven participation. Many counties have opted out entirely, preferring to set their own rules rather than adopt state-suggested standards.
For farmers like those scattered between Frankfort and Sheridan, the issue often comes down to trust — in developers, in county officials, and in the promises made about compensation and maintenance. Some landowners support the idea of diversification through renewable energy, while others say it’s simply not worth the disruption.
Even as technology improves and turbines become quieter and more efficient, the local politics remain unchanged. Most Hoosiers agree on the need for renewable energy — just not necessarily in their own backyard.
The future of wind power in Indiana’s central counties may depend less on engineering and more on relationships. Developers seeking to expand into communities like Clinton, Boone, and Hamilton will have to win the confidence of local farmers and planners before a single blade turns.
Until then, Indiana’s prime farmland remains what it has always been — the lifeblood of the Midwest, and for many, something worth protecting from change that comes too fast or too high. KNS Radio is working on a series of stories talking with landowners who have been approached and we have heard some have signed letter of agreement for wind farms, if the companies are able to get it approved by county officials. This is the first in that series.