January 23, 2008
Illinois
Illinois
While a wind farm developer hoping to do business in Livingston County says its application for county approval is complete, county officials still have questions.
Portland, Ore.-based PPM Energy filed a land-use application with the county in early June, and the county subsequently requested additional information about noise, environmental impact and Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.
PPM’s project, the Streator Cayuga Ridge Wind Energy Project, would have 373 turbines on 36,000 acres in the Cayuga Ridge area near the towns of Blackstone, Odell, Pontiac and Ransom in LaSalle and Livingston counties.
PPM project developer Jesper Michaelsen filed a third addendum to the application in December, and now the company says the paperwork is complete and should be approved.
Livingston County Zoning Administrator Chuck Schopp said issues remain to be addressed.
“I’m not going to go quite that far and say that it’s completed,” he said.
The new addendum provided updated information regarding a noise study and a FAA review.
Institute of Noise Control Engineering specialist Greg Zak provided a review of PPM’s application saying PPM’s plan complies with all applicable noise rules.
The company also said the wind farm would pose no flight hazards over the areas of Odell and Emington.
Schopp said he would like to see additional information regarding lighting on the turbines in line with FAA regulations.
Public hearings would be the next step in the process before the Livingston County Zoning Board of Appeals votes on the application. Schopp said he expects to have a better idea next week about when a hearing would be scheduled.
PPM is one of four wind farm developers that may be looking to build turbines in the county.
Texas-based Horizon Energy has submitted an application for Top Crop Wind Farm, which would have about 200 turbines on 18,200 acres in the Cayuga Ridge area.
Navitas Energy, based in Minneapolis, Minn., and Invenergy, which has Chicago offices, may file applications this year.
By Tony Sapochetti
22 January 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/01/23/questions-remain-on-livingston-co-wind-farm/