January 6, 2011
Illinois

Clayton enacts permanent wind energy development restrictions within 1.5 miles of town

By MATT HOPF, Herald-Whig Staff Writer, www.whig.com 5 January 2011

CLAYTON, Ill. – Permanent restrictions on wind energy development passed the Clayton Village Board Tuesday night.

Trustees voted 5-0 to restrict development in the village and within a 1.5-mile radius surrounding the town limits. Trustee Bert Janssen abstained from the vote.

“I think the trustees followed their constituency,” Village President Sam Miller said.

Clayton officials sent a survey to village residents last week to gauge whether they supported the 1.5-mile restriction. Village Clerk Loretta Carroll said the survey asked residents if they were happy with the 1.5-mile radius, or preferred a radius of 1.25 miles, 1 mile or 0.75 miles.

Residents also had the option to offer their views on the setback provision for wind turbines that the Adams County Board approved in August. The provision requires turbines to be erected at least 1,320 feet from the primary structures of nonparticipating landowners.

Carroll said 52 percent of the surveys were returned, with 88 percent of respondents saying they supported the 1.5-mile restriction.

Clayton is the second community in Adams County to enact permanent restrictions on wind energy development. The village of Golden enacted permanent restrictions last month.

Two public hearings were held – one in August and another in October – to hear from residents of Clayton and landowners surrounding the village on wind energy restrictions.

Clayton, Golden and Camp Point are in an area where Acciona Energy North America and Global Winds Harvest have proposed building a $300 million, 96-turbine Prairie Mills Wind Farm.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/06/clayton-enacts-permanent-wind-energy-development-restrictions-within-1-5-miles-of-town/