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.
Concerns voiced by residents help Adams County Board decide to review setback rules in wind-energy ordinance
The Adams County Board plans to revisit its newly adopted wind energy ordinance to determine if changes are needed in setback rules and public-notification provisions.
The board Tuesday directed its Transportation, Building and Technology Committee to take another look at the wind energy ordinance to review concerns voiced by residents since the ordinance was adopted in January.
Board member Lyle Nichols, R-7, who made the motion to send the matter back to the committee, said he felt the ordinance needed more review . . .
Going against the wind: Anti-development symposium set for Saturday in Ashton
ASHTON – A wind farm debate that has stirred passions across the country touches down here Saturday.
More than 100 people are expected at an anti-wind energy symposium in the village’s tiny gymnasium, where discussion is scheduled on the possible side effects of long-term exposure to wind farms and the economics of commercial wind development.
“People need to be informed about the stuff that the wind farm salesman won’t tell you,” organizer Kelly Robery said. “We don’t want to see our neighbors . . .
Hanover Park wind turbine one step closer
Keeneyville Elementary District 20 has earned a small but important victory in its campaign to build a wind turbine at Greenbrook School.
Following a lengthy discussion at Thursday’s Hanover Park village board meeting, trustees voted 4-2 in favor of directing the staff to draft a zoning ordinance allowing turbines provided a long list of conditions is met. They’ll decide whether to approve the amended ordinance in two weeks.
School district officials will then have to earn support from residents, but that may . . .
Peoria firm out of Woodford dispute
EUREKA — A Peoria law firm no longer represents Woodford County Zoning Director John Hamann in a dispute with the County Board.
Through his former attorney, Patrick Murphey, Hamann threatened to sue if the County Board did not expunge a disciplinary letter it gave him last month.
Murphey works in the law firm Miller Hall & Triggs.
But County Board Chairman John Krug said Miller, Hall & Triggs should not represent Hamann because the firm also represents wind farm developer Gamesa Wind Energy. . . .
Group concerned about Adams County wind ordinance
ADAMS CO., IL — A group of rural Adams County residents have reservations about new wind farms going up near their own backyards.
You’ll recall two groups, Global Winds Harvest and Acciona, plan to build 100 wind turbines between Clayton and Golden.
That was made possible in January when the Adams County Board passed a resolution to approve wind energy conversion regulations.
But a group of property owners have several questions and concerns about those plans.
They’ve even drafted five proposed amendments to the . . .
Hanover Park may OK smaller wind turbine
Hanover Park insiders won’t soon forget the political strife over talk of erecting a 300-foot, 100-ton wind turbine within village limits.
But a different administration and scaled-back version could prove a more promising combination for Keeneyville Elementary District 20, where officials have been pushing for the tower since 2007.
Earlier this month, the Hanover Park development commission unanimously recommended approval of a proposed text amendment to the zoning code that would allow for a 155-foot-tall wind turbine.
“Before it would have been the . . .
Wind farm meeting set for March 9
There will be an informational meeting about a prospective wind farm.
Opus Industries will host the public from in Milford, Stockland, Prairie Green and Concord townships to learn more about the development of the Iroquois Prairie Wind Farm. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. March 9 at the Stockland Gymnasium.
Fernando Mora, CEO of the renewable energy and green built technology company, said the meeting “is to let people know who we are and what are objective is. We want to . . .
County Board to review model ordinance March 16
Lake County and municipal officials are moving forward with regulations to guide development of wind energy production facilities such as a wind farm proposed for Newport Township.
The Lake County Wind Energy Task Force, consisting of the county and 20 municipalities, has developed a model wind ordinance to address regulations for both commercial wind farms and single-turbine towers.
County planning officials have developed draft amendments to the county’s Unified Development Ordinance that would incorporate those new regulations. A public hearing on . . .
Wind turbine operations examined during informational meeting in Mendon
MENDON, Ill. — Questions about noise, shadows and safety were generated Tuesday night at an informational session on wind energy at North Adams Home.
Bill York of Quincy, who is a wind energy consultant for an international energy company, shared information about wind turbine operations. Although he said the information is not specific to the proposed 100-turbine operation planned near Camp Point, York’s audience wanted to know what’s going to happen locally.
“Illinois is a fair-to-good wind resource, but it also has . . .
Woodford board claims legal conflict; Some in county say same firm shouldn’t work for zoning director, wind farm
EUREKA — Some Woodford County Board members are crying foul over a Peoria law firm’s representation of a county employee who has threatened to sue them.
County Board President John Krug said Miller, Hall & Triggs should not represent Zoning Director John Hamann because the firm also represents wind farm developer Gamesa Wind Energy.
Through his attorney Patrick Murphey of Miller, Hall & Triggs, Hamann has threatened to file a lawsuit if the County Board does not expunge a disciplinary letter he . . .
