June 1, 2012
Illinois

Board prohibits wind energy in village

By Jennifer Wheeler, RRSTAR.COM | www.rrstar.com 31 May 2012

CAPRON – Residents living just outside the village of Capron will now be able to generate energy from wind farms.

The Village Board unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday that prohibits electric-generating wind devices from being located within the village, said village Trustee Anthony Stepansky. However, residents living within a 1.5-mile radius of the community can. The device cannot be taller than 75 feet and must generate power that is exclusive to the property.

“We do not wish large wind farms to start appearing in the areas we are starting to expand within coming months and years,” Stepansky said.

Village President Jason Kruckenberg said the board looked toward other communities that did not regulate wind turbines. He said some areas have so many devices that it created a boundary around the area, which limited expansion.

Currently, there are not any wind farms located within the village. There are some located outside the community, but they can operate as is until they become inoperable or unserviceable. Then, they must abide by the ordinance’s new stipulations.

Originally, the board considered banning windmills entirely. Stepansky said trustees changed their minds when realizing that some farmers use it as a source of energy.

Additionally, the village’s Zoning Board of Appeals advised trustees to regulate the measure, not prohibit it. ZBA Chairman Don Fyfe felt the Legislature did not give the village the right to outright ban it.

“I would have preferred if they spent more time on that and came up with a regulatory ordinance rather than banning because they are exposing the village to a possible lawsuit,” Fyfe said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/06/01/board-prohibits-wind-energy-in-village/