Horizon Wind Energy LLC could begin construction on a proposed wind farm west of Brookston in about a year if all goes well with new county zoning ordinances and if design plans are developed by then.

The ordinance issue, a county-wide revision of zoning ordinances in general, will include a wind ordinance with setbacks for wind turbines and other details as part of the overhaul.

County Board of Commissioners President John Heimlich said the ordinance plan will come before county commissioners on Monday.

"It's on the agenda for Monday," Heimlich said. "Horizon was at our last meeting and gave a report - they're possibly looking at a construction start for next year, possibly in the spring."

Horizon Wind Energy has a number of other wind farm interests in several states including Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, New York, Oklahoma, Washington, Iowa and several in Pennsylvania.

The plan for White County entails leasing ground for 30,000 to 35,000 acres with potential for expansion to about 100,000 acres.

Phase one of the project would be located between Brookston and I-65 and potentially contain 130 to 138 wind turbines according to Commissioner Steve Burton.

"There will be sort of like rows so turbines in front of, or behind each other won't affect the others' performance," said Burton.

How the turbines are lined out to avoid affecting each other, similar to air disturbances created by race cars on a track, will determine how much and where land is required to locate the turbines.

Burton said because of the growing demand in the wind energy industry, turbines in turn are in demand, and how soon Horizon can acquire enough turbines will in part determine how soon the company can begin construction.
But Burton said plans should begin to fall into place in the near future.

"This will really start to fall together in the next six months," said Burton. "It's on a fast pace right now but they have a lot of work to do."

Horizon's project manager Martin Culik has been spending a lot of time in the area, and Thursday said he visited the White County Fair recently.
"I was at the county fair and met quite a few landowners," Culik said.
"I had a good response from them and local residents."

Elaborating on Burton's and Heimlich's summaries, Culik said at this point survey and other work is indeed progressing.

"Survey work is underway, we've taken soil borings and have equipment in place to monitor the water table," Culik explained.

"We're also doing bird and bat studies as well as signing up landowners."
Culik also said so far the company is on schedule to start construction next April.

"The county has been great to work with," Culik commented.
Plans for the project include property west of I-65 for Phase two and extending into two townships in Benton County.

"It's all flat out that way and there are no towns within any of the total project," Burton said.

As far as the wind ordinance is concerned, it includes a 1,500 foot setback from turbines to residences.

"Having the ordinance in place will really be a help," said Culik.

According to comments by White County Economic Development director Connie Neininger in Inside Indiana Business, Horizon Wind Energy is also planning wind farms in Randolph and Howard counties.

The company has a history of compensating land owners who are within 2,000 feet of a wind tower. It also pays homeowners within the area a fee for being close to the wind farm.

On its Web site Horizon Wind Energy, LLC notes it has gone through several stages and business models. The Company began in 1998 as a "build-transfer" developer, Zilkha Renewable Energy, and was owned for awhile by Goldman Sachs as a "developer-owner-operator" beginning in 2005.

On July 2, 2007 it was purchased by Energias de Portugal, S.A. ("EDP"), a major Portuguese utility. It is now owned by EDP Renováveis, S.A. ("EDPR"). As a renewable energy company it is currently ranked third in the United States in wind energy.

Once completed Phase one of the proposed wind farm would hook into American Electric power lines that run north through White County.