A grassroots group has sued to stop development of the Streator Cayuga Ridge South Wind Farm in Livingston County.

"We are concerned not only for our interests, but we are concerned with the interest of safety and health of the county's population," said one of the plaintiffs, Cheryl Tate of Blackstone.

People Protecting Cayuga Ridge and 12 individuals are listed on the lawsuit aimed at preventing construction of a $1.5 billion, 155-turbine project spread across 15,000 acres between the communities of Odell and Emington.

The lawsuit names as defendants Livingston County, the Livingston County Board, all 24 current board members and the wind farm developers, Iberdrola Renewables Inc. of Spain and Heartland Wind LLC, a subsidiary of PPM energy of Portland, Oregon.

The plaintiffs ask the Livingston County Circuit Court to stop the development and award more than $50,000 in compensation for potential harm and interference in property values.

As of Friday, no hearing date was set.

Livingston County State's Attorney Tom Brown said the lawsuit is under review and declined to comment further. Iberdrola spokeswoman Anita Marks and County Board Chairman Bill Flott each said they could not comment on pending litigation.

Wind farm supporters argue the wind farm would be an economic boon to the area, creating jobs, paying rent to landowners and yielding millions of dollars in taxes for schools, communities and park districts.

The lawsuit says errors were made during hearings earlier this year before the Livingston County Zoning Board of Appeals. The 10 hearing sessions from April to June 2008 dealt with whether the wind farm should receive a special-se permit to operate in an agricultural area.

It also says Iberdrola failed to provide a complete permit application, and the County Board did not have enough time to review the ZBA hearing record before approving the permit in July 2008.

Violation of due process requirements made the public hearings "fundamentally unfair," the lawsuit says.

Construction of the turbines will "endanger the public health, safety, morals, comfort and general welfare" of owners nearby, according to the lawsuit. It says homeowners would not be able to fully enjoy their property and would face health risks related to noise and lighting.

Tate said plaintiffs believe the planned turbine sites are too close to adjoining properties, and she also is concerned about the visibility of turbine lights at night.

Although she does not live within the boundaries of the first phase, she does live within the area the proposed second phase. Streator Cayuga Ridge North would add 169 on land stretching north into LaSalle County.

Others listed as plaintiffs are: Tye and Judy Campbell, Michael and Maureen Moschetti, Joseph and Melinda Cusack, James and Laura Buscher, Robert and Cindy Price, and Jason Tate.