Wind Power News: Illinois
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Walnut approves wind turbine ordinance
WALNUT — After a lengthy debate and months of meetings, the village of Walnut finally has an ordinance to regulate wind turbines outside the village limits. The board approved the ordinance at its meeting Monday. “Finally it’s over,” said Walnut Village Board President Rob Brasen. The Walnut Village Board approved the final version of the ordinance at its meeting Monday on a 5-1 vote, with Duane Christensen casting the negative vote. The ordinance had moved back and forth between the . . .
Proponents of wind farms full of hot air
Lake Forester readers would benefit from knowing what is being touted in a sister publication, the Lake County News-Sun. In an OUR VIEW commentary published in the News-Sun on Jan. 31, it was related how Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian “may be on to something when he speaks of the future and a wind farm off the city’s Lake Michigan shoreline.” A little over two weeks ago, Mayor Sabonjian suggested that the project was a great use of the lake that . . .
Sangamon County officials set meetings to discuss wind turbines
Two public meetings scheduled for later this month will give people an opportunity to comment on a potential wind farm in the western part of Sangamon County. The first meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 715 E. Illinois St. in New Berlin. The second will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 29 in the county board chambers on the second floor of the Sangamon County Building at Ninth and Monroe Streets. . . .
Boone County Board to give wind farm law a closer look
BELVIDERE — Boone County officials are ready to re-examine and rewrite county laws that govern wind farms. Politicians here have wrestled with how to handle the electricity-generating turbines since the first request in the county for weather-testing equipment was made about a decade ago. The issue is contentious, dividing County Board members’ votes and landing the board in court over its decision to deny a wind farm in 2005. With a new wind-energy company announcing its presence in Boone County, . . .
Group says rules could harm their Ogle farms; Panel pushes wind farm noise restrictions
OREGON – Will the government seek to muffle farm noise? Some say it could happen. An agricultural leader contends an Ogle County proposal for noise restrictions on wind turbines could end up being used against farms. Brian Duncan, Ogle County Farm Bureau president, opposes a proposed standard that would bar wind turbines from creating noise more than 5 decibels above background noise. He said it could be used to prohibit farm activity such as grain drying. “The courts have ruled . . .
Ogle County wind farm a health risk
On Jan. 17 at the Ogle County Board meeting, some people with special interests said the proposed Wind Energy Conversion Systems Text Amendment is not acceptable. As president of the Ogle County Farm Bureau, Brian Duncan has used its resources to support Industrial Wind Turbines both in Ogle and neighboring counties. During his sworn testimony at Ogle County’s Zoning Board of Appeals hearings, Duncan admitted to being a layman and agreed that public health and safety are important. He also . . .
Wind moratorium passes; hearings scheduled
Sangamon County has passed a moratorium on wind energy projects. The move was made last week by the full county board after originally being proposed in November. It freezes all potential wind project development in the county and allows the zoning ordinance effecting wind farms to be updated. The moratorium anticipates plans for a 200-turbine wind farm on land that goes from the Morgan County line to Farmington to Loami to Pleasant Plains. The project, developed by American Wind Energy . . .
Proposed changes could help those who live near Woodford Co. wind farms
EUREKA — Some proposed changes to the Woodford County zoning code will help landowners who live near wind farms, but whose properties are not involved in the projects. “We are trying to protect people who live in and among these (wind farms) without (the turbines) interfering in their daily life,” said Shannon Rocke, a member of the Conservation, Planning and Zoning Committee. “It’s about property rights. These (turbines) are going to be up for 30 years.” CP&Z member Duane Kingdon . . .
Galva council approves Kewanee zone extension
Galva, Ill. — A public hearing was held at Monday night’s Galva City Council meeting to discuss an amendment to the Kewanee Enterprise Zone. Kewanee City Manager Kip Spear led the hearing. He said that the hearing was a formality, in order to add four wind turbines being erected by Invenergy that had been located out of the original zone. The turbines will be in the second phase of the Bishop Hill wind energy project. The towers will be located . . .
Council doesn’t wind farm turbines on city property
Don’t look for wind farm turbines to be built inside Washington’s city limits, or even inside the city’s 1.5-mile jurisdiction. The Washington City Council reaffirmed that stance recently so city staff could pass along the message to residents and wind energy firms looking to build a wind farm in the area. “We had some residents ask us about turbines being built on their property because they see them as a revenue source, but other residents have told us they definitely . . .
