A bill moving through the Arizona House would prevent wind farms from being built within 12 miles of property zoned for residential development.
It would also require property owners to sign off before a wind farm is built within 6 miles of their land and be retroactive to the beginning of this year.
There are at least two wind farm proposals in Navajo County that could be affected.
Snowflake Rep. David Marshall’s bill is opposed by environmentalists and developers. Stan Barns, a lobbyist for the Interwest Energy Alliance, told lawmakers that markets support wind farms.
"Because economics supports it, because local elected officials approve it, and because local landowners, exercising their property rights, make money on it," Barns said.
The bill awaits a final House vote before going to the Senate.
