Dec 5 - McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Jimmy Myers St. Joseph News-Press, Mo.

Supporters of Bethany's municipal airport put a road block in a plan that could save city consumers a total of $75,000 a year in electric bills.

Wind Capital Group has offered to erect four, 260-foot windmills that could provide enough electricity to power the town of 3,000. One of the windmills would be located on airport property. The other three, with 1,000 feet between them, would stretch to the east on private land. The caveat being that the airport, which was built in 1965, would have to be shut down.

"It's still an asset to the community," said John Meeks, a member of the 10-person "Cloud Hoppers" flying club based at the Bethany Memorial Airport. "Once you lose this, you'll never get an airport in the community again."

Mr. Meeks was one of several in attendance at a public hearing during a City Council meeting Monday who spoke out against closing the airport.

Proponents of the wind farm said the airport, which has the fourth-shortest concrete runway in Missouri, is used by hobbyists only and that city administrators should look for an alternate site for a larger airport. Tony Stonecypher, Bethany's city administrator, said federal support for a regional airport that would serve the area wasn't scheduled until 2009.

Federal Aviation Administration regulations prohibit building windmills (whose blades reach up to 400 feet) within six miles of an airport, said Wind Capital engineer Dean Baumgardner.

Council members agreed that Wind Capital should look for an alternate location. "I just don't want to lose this opportunity," said Bethany Mayor Dick Graner.

Mr. Baumgardner said after the hearing that Wind Capital would look at land south of the airport, but that the wind speeds at the airport site were the best in the area. Time is short, though. He said the few wind turbines available will be snatched-up quickly by other wind farm developers. He also said there is no guarantee that the available wind turbines would be allocated for Wind Capital's use.

Bethany purchases its energy through Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility. Wind Capital would sell its energy to MJMEU.

However, with the energy being generated so close to town, Bethany residents wouldn't have to pay for transmission costs, which would significantly lower their electric bills.