A Colorado-based developer that filed a lawsuit last year against a Hoosier zoning board alleging it had exceeded its authority by increasing the distance wind turbines had to be from property lines has withdrawn its plans to build a north-central Indiana wind farm.

Juwi Wind said it is giving up plans to erect 94 wind turbines in a rural area northwest of Tipton, about 35 miles north of Indianapolis. The company previously announced it would invest $300 million in the project.

The company said in a statement that the Tipton Board of Zoning Appeals decision to increase the distance between the turbines and property lines and requiring a property value guarantee plan to protect non-participating property owners in the project "effectively rendered the project impossible to build."

The lawsuit's other plaintiffs will decide whether to pursue their claims against the zoning appeals board, even though Juwi is no longer involved, the Kokomo Tribune reported.

Jerry Acres, zoning appeals board chairman, defended the stipulations.

"Our objective during this entire process was to ensure that the ordinances of Tipton County were upheld and to preserve the integrity of the BZA," Acres said.

