November 10, 2006
Illinois

Wind farm coming, after all

Chicago-based Invenergy still plans to build a 266-turbine development on farmland near Avoca, Pleasant Ridge, Charlotte, Forrest and Chatsworth, but for now will steer clear of a proposed subdivision near Chatsworth.

“If this (the wind farm) were a footprint, we removed a toe,” Barnaby Dinges, Invenergy’s director of public education, said Thursday afternoon. “We are committed to the project and met with 130 landowners Tuesday night to outline the development and answer questions.”

A story in Thursday’s Pantagraph wrongly said Invenergy was abandoning the Chatsworth portion of the project. Dinges said Oliver’s Crossing subdivision represents 20 percent of the project.

The Chatsworth Town Council earlier approved an ordinance limiting wind farm development to 1.5 miles from town.

“We want to be a good neighbor and know the subdivision has some real potential and don’t want to derail that,” said Invenergy representative Joel Link. “We think there is enough area for both of us but we’re going to focus on developing other parts of Pleasant Ridge Wind Farm. We will track the progress on the subdivision and if the opportunity to site a wind farm in that area comes up after the first two phases of the project (sometime in 2008), we will address it then.”

Chatsworth is committed to working with both developments, said councilman Steve Maxson.

Oliver’s Crossing, a 900-acre development, was recently annexed to the town and is located a couple of miles south of Chatsworth. Once completed, it will have a 200-acre lake and more than 600 homes priced between $350,000 and $400,000.

By Dave Tompkins
dmtompkins@verizon.net

pantagraph.com


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/11/10/wind-farm-coming-after-all/