Topeka ? An Emporia legislator is seeking a moratorium on wind farm development in the Flint Hills.

Rep. Peggy Long-Mast, R-Emporia, introduced a bill Tuesday to prevent development in a 15-county area from Arkansas City to Manhattan. Land owners and environmentalists have been battling with wind energy developers over placing wind farms in the Flint Hills. Long-Mast said she wanted to find a solution “in the best interest of everyone.”

However, Rep. Carl Holmes, R-Liberal and chairman of the House Utilities Committee, said he was unlikely to address any wind-energy related legislation this session. He prefers to wait until a governor’s task force on wind energy finishes its work in May.

Long-Mast’s bill would place a moratorium on wind farm development until recommendations are made by the task force.