News
Zoning changes made to allow wind farms in Ford County
SIBLEY – The Ford County Board has cleared the way for possible development of a wind farm.
March 28, 2006
by Christine Des Garennes
in The News Gazette
After a California company expressed an interest in putting dozens of wind turbines south of Sibley, the county board earlier this month changed its zoning to allow wind turbines be proposed for rural parts of the county.
The company, Orion Energy, is considering putting dozens of windmills on about six sections in the county to cover a total of about 3,000 acres, said Candice Short, Ford County's zoning officer.
If the company did want to build a wind farm in Ford County, it would have to apply for a special-use permit. The county's plan commission and board of appeals would consider the application and the board of appeals would hold public hearings. The final decision would rest with the Ford County Board, Short said.
Before the board's action on March 13, there was no language in the zoning ordinance that would have allowed wind farms to be built, Short said.
The county has not received an application from Orion. A representative with the company did not return calls seeking comment.
"Any time you look at providing alternative energy, that's a good thing," said David Treece, manager of the Ford-Iroquois County Farm Bureau.
But landowners and residents have to weigh several factors, he said. "There's the visual impact to take into consideration, and the swoosh sound." Other concerns include injury to birds and possible interference with radio waves.
In recent years, as interest in wind farms has grown, the Illinois Farm Bureau has offered legal assistance to landowners negotiating leases with wind energy companies.
Most wind farm developments in Illinois have been in the north and western part of the state.
"But there are in fact places in the southern part of state that are good," said Chris Merrett, director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Institute staff educate groups about alternative energies like wind power and are involved in several research projects.
One project is to monitor wind in designated spots around the state. They're measuring not just how windy one place is, but if the wind is consistently windy and at what height.
Typical wind turbines can be about 450 feet tall and require a 40-foot wide cement base.
"Some people think they look really cool. Others think it's an eyesore," Merrett said.
Floyd Otto, farmer and member of the Ford County Board, said the idea of a wind farm in the region is "a good deal," but everything is still very preliminary.
"If there are 40 windmills, it will take a lot of red tape before everything is all finalized," he said.
The company, Orion Energy, is considering putting dozens of windmills on about six sections in the county to cover a total of about 3,000 acres, said Candice Short, Ford County's zoning officer.
If the company did want to build a wind farm in Ford County, it would have to apply for a special-use permit. The county's plan commission and board of appeals would consider the application and the board of appeals would hold public hearings. The final decision would rest with the Ford County Board, Short said.
Before the board's action on March 13, there was no language in the zoning ordinance that would have allowed wind farms to be built, Short said.
The county has not received an application from Orion. A representative with the company did not return calls seeking comment.
"Any time you look at providing alternative energy, that's a good thing," said David Treece, manager of the Ford-Iroquois County Farm Bureau.
But landowners and residents have to weigh several factors, he said. "There's the visual impact to take into consideration, and the swoosh sound." Other concerns include injury to birds and possible interference with radio waves.
In recent years, as interest in wind farms has grown, the Illinois Farm Bureau has offered legal assistance to landowners negotiating leases with wind energy companies.
Most wind farm developments in Illinois have been in the north and western part of the state.
"But there are in fact places in the southern part of state that are good," said Chris Merrett, director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Institute staff educate groups about alternative energies like wind power and are involved in several research projects.
One project is to monitor wind in designated spots around the state. They're measuring not just how windy one place is, but if the wind is consistently windy and at what height.
Typical wind turbines can be about 450 feet tall and require a 40-foot wide cement base.
"Some people think they look really cool. Others think it's an eyesore," Merrett said.
Floyd Otto, farmer and member of the Ford County Board, said the idea of a wind farm in the region is "a good deal," but everything is still very preliminary.
"If there are 40 windmills, it will take a lot of red tape before everything is all finalized," he said.
Filed under
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Illinois
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Zoning/Planning
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