LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME


[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]

Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

Get weekly updates
RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Stripe

Donate via Paypal

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Panel: Wind farm will help economy 

Credit:  BY DAVID GIULIANI | April 13, 2013 | www.saukvalley.com ~~

DIXON – Members of Lee County’s zoning board on Friday agreed a proposed wind farm would help the local economy, but they only took that concept so far.

The Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals is considering Ireland-based Mainstream Renewable Power’s proposal for 53 turbines in the county’s southwestern corner.

One of the wind industry’s major arguments is that it boosts rural economies. To an extent, the zoning panel agreed. It voted for findings that the proposed wind farm would significantly increase tax revenue for local school districts, townships and the county government; greatly increase local employment during the construction phase; and add permanent jobs.

All of those findings were proposed by member Bruce Forester, who, along with the much quieter Gene Bothe, seemed most favorable to the wind farm.

The board’s majority, however, disagreed with his proposed finding that the project would add “significant dollars” to the local economy in the form of disposable income received by the wind farm’s host landowners.

“The landlords who don’t live around here aren’t going to spend money here,” member Tom Fassler said. “They’ll spend money where they live. There’s a pretty good percentage who don’t live here.”

A 3-2 majority voted down the finding, with Fassler, Craig Buhrow and Mike Pratt against and Forester and Bothe in favor.

Later, the board unanimously approved a watered-down version of Forester’s finding, which stated that the project would add money to the economy. Members removed the word “local.”

In another finding, the board said it wouldn’t base its decision on the wind farm solely on an increase or decrease in revenue for taxing bodies.

Later in the hearing, a 3-2 board majority rejected a Forester proposal that stated that the noise from the turbines wouldn’t violate noise limits for agricultural property under Illinois regulations. Forester and Bothe dissented.

Mainstream’s proposal is part of a three-county wind farm, which includes Whiteside and Bureau counties. Last year, Whiteside County approved nine turbines, while Bureau County’s zoning panel recommended against Mainstream’s plan for 19 turbines, saying it didn’t meet the county’s requirements.

Mainstream withdrew its proposal in Bureau County, saying it planned to submit a new one.

Public invited

The Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals will meet at 7 p.m. April 23 in the County Board meeting room on the third floor of the Old County Courthouse, 112 E. Second St.

The board will begin the decision-making process on the proposed Mainstream Renewable Power wind farm.

If needed, other meetings are scheduled for the same time and place April 24, 25, 26, 29 and 30.

Source:  BY DAVID GIULIANI | April 13, 2013 | www.saukvalley.com

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Contributions
   Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)
Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI M TG TS G Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook Wind Watch on Linked In

Wind Watch on Mastodon Wind Watch on Truth Social

Wind Watch on Gab Wind Watch on Bluesky