March 13, 2014
Illinois

Adams County Board votes against new wind farm legislation

By Jenny Dreasler, Multimedia Journalist | March 12, 2014 | www.wgem.com

The Adams County Board is opposing current legislation that would take control of local wind energy out of the county’s hands.

Board Chairman Les Post says the new proposal would allow the Illinois Department of Agriculture to develop statewide standards for wind farm sites.

Post says the bill also aims to completely remove all local control over existing turbines. It’s a concept Post says the county board has shot down and highly opposes.

“We developed a very strong wind ordinance a few years ago here in Adams county that protected the citizens, ourselves, our taxing bodies within the county,” Post said. “We’re not seeing where any of that is really spelled out in that state law, and that’s what concerns us. The ordinance we developed is a good ordinance, and we feel that possibly the state requirements may be less stringent than that.”

Post says the Adams County Board sent a letter to Senator John Sullivan expressing concern over the legislation. The bill is currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Energy Committee.

[video report available]

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/03/13/adams-county-board-votes-against-new-wind-farm-legislation/