Wind Power News: Illinois
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
PORTA High School runaway wind turbine collapses
By Jeremy Coumbes on April 22, 2023 at wlds.com A runaway wind turbine at an area high school is on the ground after spinning freely for nearly 24 hours. Menard County Sheriff’s Deputies, Emergency Response personnel, and school administration officials responded to PORTA High School in Petersburg after the school’s multi-story wind turbine began spinning freely around 4:30 Friday afternoon. PORTA Superintendent Matt Brue says the large wind turbine that sits at the edge of the school grounds near the . . . Complete story »
Area around PORTA High School cleared friday night due to runaway wind turbine
Emergency personnel responded to a runaway windmill in Menard County last night. According to a report by the Menard County Sheriff’s Office at 8:50 pm Friday, emergency personnel and PORTA School officials were at the PORTA High School due to a malfunction with the school’s wind turbine. Officials say the brake system failed allowing the turbine to spin freely. School and emergency personnel were reportedly in contact with technicians who said that there was no way to stop the turbine . . . Complete story »
New push to build wind farm in Lake Michigan off Chicago
There’s a new push to build a wind farm in Lake Michigan off Chicago. The bill has passed the Illinois House and now goes to the Senate. The wind farm, including 10 to 20 windmills, would be located several miles off South Shore. It would cost electric customers about $680 million in subsidies over the next two decades. One of the bill’s sponsors says those subsidies are marginal give the billions of dollars spent on electric bills every year in . . . Complete story »
County Board votes no on wind farm
The Piatt County Board has declined a special use permit for a 300 MW wind farm that was proposed to be located in Goose Creek, Sangamon and Blue Ridge townships in northern Piatt County. “We were elected by the people in our various districts to do what is best for our constituents,” said District One Board Member Jerry Edwards, who voted against the project. “I have heard from a lot of residents of Piatt County and for the vast majority, this . . . Complete story »
Ford County’s collapsed wind turbine puts more eyes on a new state law
A fallen wind turbine has county officials revisiting a new law. The Ford County Vice Chairman said situations like that are why they have certain ordinances in place. Energy company confirms wind turbine collapses near Paxton “How close is too close? How close are you comfortable having your family or your residents from a wind tower that can come down,” said Emily Lattz, a homeowner in Ford County, “Why should the rights of the county be taken away for them . . . Complete story »
Ogle County voices concern after state takes away local control of solar, wind farms
Solar and wind farms were a big point of discussion at Tuesday night’s Ogle County Board meeting. A bill recently passed by state lawmakers would take control away from the county. Concerns at Tuesday’s meeting was not necessarily about the solar and wind farms themselves, but more about handing power over to the state. Ogle County Board members and residents said that they are concerned about losing control. “So, you pick on the smaller communities that have cheaper land prices . . . Complete story »
Neighbors react after wind turbine collapses near Paxton
Security around the collapsed turbine is tight to prevent people from getting too close. But as of 5 p.m. on Friday, on-scene reporters saw no one at the collapse site, crews and trespassers alike. Matt Tulis, a spokesperson for RWE Renewables, said the company is now turning to the recovery phase of the turbine, which includes figuring out if any parts of salvageable. They’ve had a drone in the area inspecting the area. Buckley to receive $5M for wastewater infrastructure . . . Complete story »
Energy company confirms wind turbine collapses near Paxton
A leaning wind turbine in Ford County came crashing down Thursday evening. It is located just south of Route 9 near Paxton. RWE Renewables Americas LLC confirmed they received reports the turbine collapsed Thursday evening. They say crews were not there when it happened, but were later sent to investigate the cause. A neighbor who lives about a quarter of a mile from the turbine said the collapse sounded like a “loud rumble of thunder,” and he could feel the . . . Complete story »
Pritzker flips: supports overriding local control of wind farm siting decisions
A bill that strips local control from county governments regarding zoning matters on wind and solar energy appears to be close to becoming law. The legislation, which passed in the lame-duck session of the previous Illinois General Assembly, would provide counties with “guardrails” for siting wind farms, and would create a commission that would oversee and approve wind turbines everywhere but Chicago. Supporters say the measure is needed to better attain the state’s renewable energy goals. “I think it’s very . . . Complete story »
Turbine on fire: video shows wind turbine in northern Lasalle County burning
On Thursday, the Mendota and Troy Grove Fire Departments were dispatched to a wind turbine on fire in northern LaSalle County. Complete story »
