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.
Company resubmits wind farm application in Vermilion County
DANVILLE – An international company interested in building a 40-turbine wind farm west of Rossville has resubmitted its request to the Vermilion County board for a building permit. About a year ago, International Power America Inc., which merged with France-based GDF Suez, submitted its application to the county for a wind farm but pulled it from consideration just before the county’s structural safety committee made a decision on the permit. According to county officials, the company pulled its request because . . .
Panel to discuss wind farm setback – at last
DIXON – Last, but not least. After months of meetings, the Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals is expected to address what many consider the most important wind farm issue – the distance between homes and turbines. The board has addressed other issues in drafting a proposed wind energy ordinance. Earlier this month, it voted on noise regulations for wind farms. Board Chairman Ron Conderman said he expects the board to discuss the setback distance at its meeting Thursday. After . . .
City to hold hearing on wind turbines
When a cold wind blows, local industrial sites may be generating renewable energy. The city’s License and Ordinance Committee got to work last week on adapting a sample ordinance for the siting of wind turbines, and Local 150 may be the first property owner to use it. The ordinance will govern the siting of larger facilities – Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) and substations that generate electricity to be sold to wholesale or retail markets. Owners of small towers that . . .
Settlement limits Libertyville wind turbine’s hours of operation
A settlement has been reached in the lawsuit over Aldridge Electric’s wind turbine in Libertyville. A group of neighbors calling itself Citizens for Protection of Libertyville filed the lawsuit against Libertyville and Aldridge Electric in 2009 over Aldridge’s 120-foot tall wind turbine at 844 E. Rockland Road. Under the proposed settlement agreement, Aldridge has agreed to limit the hours of operation of the wind turbine from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and to comply with village standards . . .
Lee’s turbine noise protection is inadequate
In his Jan. 9 article [“Who’s writing wind rules? In one case, company’s draft OK’d word for word”], SVM reporter David Giuliani asked who’s writing the wind ordinances and pointed out the wind developers seemed to have heavy influence on important topics being considered by the Lee County Zoning Board, including noise and decommissioning. He’s absolutely right. Despite numerous complaints from people living near wind projects in Lee, DeKalb, Bureau and other counties all over the state, the zoning board . . .
Group eyes new rules on turbines
In a move that could affect wind farm development in Illinois, the American Bird Conservancy recently asked the U.S. Department of the Interior to use its legal muscle to protect birds from wind turbines. The group filed a petition recently asking the federal government to use powers contained in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to force planners to limit the impact of turbines on birds from the very start of a new development. The ABC thinks wind farms should be . . .
County board nixes fines
PRINCETON — The Bureau County Board narrowly defeated a motion Tuesday that would have sought fines for the Iberdrola Renewable wind farm. At the meeting, board member Joe Bassetti made a motion to have Bureau County State’s Attorney Patrick Herrmann go before a judge to seek fines for three wind turbines and a meteorological tower in the Providence Heights wind farm that were built too close to adjoining properties. The violations have since been remedied, either by the purchase of . . .
Regulations are needed on all wind farms
Ogle County is beautiful and offers much to its residents and visitors. It’s the home to three state parks, six nature preserves, and the Rock River that offers much in the form of recreation, sports, and relaxation. I believe that most residents want to preserve what we have, but there are those who want change for their financial gain. I’m referring to the development of wind farms. Ogle County has taken a thorough look at the effects that wind farms . . .
IVCC wind turbine plan spins closer to reality
An effort to construct a wind tower on Illinois Valley Community College’s campus is making progress. IVCC’s audit/finance committee on Wednesday recommended the full board allow an Ameresco representative to file on behalf of the college an application for over $900,000 in grant funding from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation. Reed Wilson, special projects assistant to the president, also recommended the college seek Request-for-Proposals for a consultant to work on an environmental study that would need to be completed for . . .
Libertyville approves wind turbine settlement
Settlement of a lawsuit involving the lone wind turbine in Libertyville is nearing completion but the issue of how those facilities will be regulated in the future remains open for debate. The Libertyville village board on Tuesday accepted a settlement agreement with residents near Aldridge Electric on Rockland Road, although residents have not yet signed off on the latest version. “We knew nothing about any of this. We don’t have a finished copy of the agreement, we have a tentative . . .
