A proposed wind farm for Tazewell County is in jeopardy because the county and Horizon Wind Energy LLC can't reach an agreement, threatening to stop the project from moving forward.

The Tazewell County Land Use Committee met Tuesday, and problems that have apparently been brewing under the surface for months came to light.

Assistant Tazewell County State's Attorney Mike Holly said he is concerned with several parts of a decommissioning plan, which addresses what will happen to 38 wind towers if Horizon ever goes bankrupt, sells the wind farm or abandons it.

Holly said the current plan allows Horizon to transfer its agreement or obligations with the county to another company if it chooses. That, Holly said, would leave the county in a partnership with a company it would know nothing about.

"I think it's in the county's best interest to know who we're dealing with," Holly said.

Holly said he wants the county to have approval on any company Horizon would transfer its obligations to, but Horizon Project Development Manager Bill Whitlock said that's an unreasonable request.

"We've been back and forth on this subject," Whitlock said. "That is unprecedented in our experience, that the county would have approval. That is one point we cannot give on."

Seven drafts of the decommissioning plan have been sent between the two, but several committee members said an agreement may not be reached.

Committee members David Zimmerman and Terry Hillegonds disagreed with Holly and sided with Horizon.

"I think that's an absolutely unreasonable request on the county's part," Hillegonds told Holly. "I think you're really out in left field on this."

Hillegonds said he's not just worried about the time it will take to hash out a new plan.

"I think the other risk is that we're not going to have a wind farm in Tazewell County," he said.

Holly also said he also wants a lien placed on Horizon's assets that would cover decommissioning costs if it bails out.

County Administrator David Jones said he feels the plan is fine as it is, and if a plan isn't approved, the wind farm can't move forward.

"I don't know any company (that) is going to turn over that authority to the county," Jones said.

In addition to the decommissioning plan, Horizon and the county will have to agree on a road use agreement and about 20 other items before the project can be built.

"It sounds to me like we're at a show stopper," said committee member Ken Klopfenstein.

The committee made no decision Tuesday but asked Holly to list objections he has with the current plan, which will be discussed at a future meeting.