February 16, 2011
Illinois

County holds off on some wind energy regulations, but says no to utility-scale turbines

By Megan Craig TribLocal reporter, triblocal.com 15 February 2011

Although at least two area villages have set wind turbine regulations in the past few months and the Lake County Board has agreed to disallow utility-scale turbines, the county is still mulling small-scale regulations.

The board voted recently to prohibit large wind farms in unincorporated areas, following standards that Gurnee and Grayslake have already set with their regulations. Gurnee’s wind-energy ordinance has been in effect since November, and the Grayslake Village Board is expected to officially pass that town’s wind ordinance at a meeting later tonight.

The county has been reviewing wind energy standards for almost two years, but voted Feb. 8 to postpone consideration of small wind turbines in unincorporated areas.

Libertyville is following suit – a plan commission discussion on wind scheduled for January was pushed back to a Feb. 28 meeting. A six-month moratorium on construction of wind energy systems could be extended to allow more time for discussion on the topic, according to village officials.

Small wind energy systems – like the ones approved in Gurnee and proposed in the county – typically consist of one small turbine used to provide partial power to an on-site facility.

The county board will again consider approving small wind turbines in unincorporated areas of Lake County during its March 15 meeting. A public hearing will precede that vote.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/02/16/county-holds-off-on-some-wind-energy-regulations-but-says-no-to-utility-scale-turbines/