Group opposed to wind farm near Carlock to get day in court
BLANDINSVILLE —
Information is Power will get its day in court.
The group of residents trying to stop the construction of White Oak Energy Center near their homes will have their lawsuit against White Oak Wind Energy LLC and the McLean County Board and Zoning Board of Appeals heard Oct. 27 in McLean County Court.
White Oak Energy Center is a $250 million, 100-turbine wind farm slated to be constructed on 12,000 acres along the Woodford and McLean county border near Carlock. Eighty-nine of the 100 turbines would be located in McLean County.
“(Information is Power) intends to pursue legal actions as long and as far as necessary to stop the inappropriate placement of the White Oak wind energy facility,” said a statement issued by the group.
“The merits of the case are substantial and include numerous constitutional violations that occurred during the process of approving the special use permit for the construction … of 100, 137-ton, 499-foot (tall) wind turbines in an area that includes no fewer than 450 households,” the statement reads.
Sally Rudolf, chairman of the zoning board of appeals, which recommended approval of the special use permit for White Oak Energy Center by a 6-0 vote Feb. 9, said previously she thought the public hearings for the permit were conducted fairly.
“Everyone got their say, and we felt the process was very well executed,” Rudolf said.
Information is Power wants the court to toss out the special use permit approved by the McLean County Board “because of the failure of the wind company to meet the standards of the permit.”
The County Board approved the permit by a 17-1 vote March 20.
Media inquires about Information is Power’s lawsuit were directed to Bloomington attorney Melissa McGrath, who is representing the group in its legal proceedings. McGrath was in her office Monday, but did not return a phone call seeking comment.
By Steve Stein
7 July 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
Some possibly related stories:
- Wind farm, McLean group reach agreement
- County will not be released from wind farm suit
- Deal reached over controversial wind farm on eve of bench trial
- Judge sets October trial date in suit pitting group, wind farm
- Wind farm foes will get chance to speak
- Construction on wind farm in Carlock area to start later this year
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