News
The county is already the site of four planned wind farm projects stretching from one in the southeast corner to three more along the western side.
Most of Illinois - as well as the majority of Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan and Wisconsin - rate in only the second lowest category as far as annual wind speed is concerned, turning in a speed range of between 5 ½ and 6 ½ meters per second.
But according to the American Wind Energy Association, the speeds tops the required 5 meters per second (11 miles per hour) needed by a wind turbine. The turbines turn about 20 times per minute and have a life span of from 20 to 30 years.
But it's the county's position in the nation's eastern power grid that has made it an interesting site for the wind farm development so far.
"The best wind states are in the Great Plains, but the infrastructure to get the electricity from there to the east coast is not in place," said Todd Lee of Vermilion Advantage. "We're right on the edge of the eastern grid. That why it makes sense for them to be looking at us."
Wind turbines, Lee added, are also the newest form to try to improve and update a system that was hit just more than six years ago by a blackout that hit 50 million people in an area from Vermont and Connecticut through Ohio and Michigan.
"People realized we've got an antiquated system that needs to be addressed," Lee said. "When that happens, getting more turbines is going to occur."
Officials planning wind turbine farms in Vermilion County have also cited local topography as a reason the local area was chosen. Here, ridges in the land, along with wide agricultural areas, provide a prospective spot to take advantage of local wind flow.
The Vermilion County Board passed a wind farm ordinance earlier this year dictating several aspects of the situation, ranging from road care during the construction of the wind turbines and the buffer zone between the turbines and property to the permit process for a wind farm.
The ordinance also creates a permit application process for the companies before work can begin on the sites.
County Board Chairman Jim McMahon said the county has had several meetings with the four groups. As of this week, none have reached the stage of submitting a permit to the county. At this stage, representatives are looking at land usage and county roadways.
McMahon said the companies are getting close, with project construction starting potentially as soon as next year.
"I'd be shocked if it doesn't happen," he said.
In fact, it may happen sooner than residents realize.
All timelines are estimations at this point, but at least two wind farms - California Ridge project by Chicago-based Invenergy Wind Development and the Reilly Ridge project being put together by Hoopeston Wind One and Element Markets of Houston - could apply for a permit by the end of the year.
Jeff Veazie of Invenergy confirmed the timeline, saying they hope to begin the application process for a permit.
"We're getting close," he said.
Once a permit is in hand, site work for the project will begin in the spring with turbine construction starting next year as well.
Two-thirds of the California Ridge project is in Vermilion County while the remainder is in Champaign County. Veazie said the Champaign County portion is a few months behind Vermilion County.
"It's what we had planned for," he said. "We're glad to still be on track."
The California Ridge project is a 200 megawatt site with an expected maximum of around 130 turbines.
Lee said the Reilly Ridge project is on a similar timeframe, with the companies putting together information for the application process. The latest indication was site work would be done next year and turbines would go up in 2011.
The Reilly Ridge project will be located south of the village of Reilly between County Roads 3800N and 3500N. The California Ridge project starts south of Collison near Newtown and fans out to the northwest.
Horizon Wind Energy's Broadlands project is centered around the village of Broadlands in Champaign County, extending outward into Vermilion, Douglas and Edgar counties.
Dwight Farber of Horizon Wind Energy said the company has set up a shorter timeline than originally thought, with site work and construction expected in 2011 and 2012.
"We've ramped up the development activities in the next six months in terms of studies and acquiring land," he said, adding that studies on transmission have moved faster than expected.
The 300 megawatt wind farm will handle between 150 and 200 turbines. The set-up, Farber said, will come in at least two phases and maybe three phases.
Farber said the company has begun to lease land in parts of the area for the wind farm. Easements for a number of properties in Pilot Township where the California Ridge project would be located also have come through the Vermilion County Recorder's Office.
Eco-Energy is handling the final wind farm project, which extends from the southeast corner of the county and along the southern border of the county.
Brian Roeder of Eco-Energy said it's still early in the process for the wind farm, which is called Eco-Mill Wind LLC.
An estimated number of turbines for the wind farm - which will turn out 200 megawatts - has not been determined, although it could go as high as 134.
Lee said there has been very little opposition from farmers in the county, if any issues that have been vocalized publicly.
"I think people realize it makes sense looking for cleaner energy sources," he said. "We have historically been an industrial county. So I don't think people view wind turbines as intrusive to our county."
Lee said the recession - like most businesses across the country - seemed to slow the companies behind the wind turbine projects intended for Vermilion County. But with the announcement of funds from the stimulus bill, he said the companies were "re-energized" for the projects.
According to Roeder, the faltering economy did force a slow down in projects for many wind farm companies across the country.
"Banks weren't lending very much last year," he said. "With the tax credit approved last year, we're starting to see banks lend more."
He added a lot of developments are working to finish by 2011, when it is believed the tax credit will end.
Interest in Vermilion County extends beyond these four projects Two of the biggest companies in wind energy - BP and Iberdrola - have approached the county in the past regarding wind energy projects. But neither has gone so far as to indicate a local location.
Simply because the planned wind turbines will be in Vermilion County, doesn't mean the towering windmills are producing power for this area alone.
The Midwestern Independent System Operators (MISO) is a bulk energy transmission system that handles electricity in part of the Midwest, including Illinois. Electricity is produced by members of MISO, which then sells it back to companies like Ameren that broker out the electricity and distribute it to customers.
Electricity produced by the wind turbines in Vermilion County could be used almost anywhere covered by MISO, such as St. Louis or Indianapolis.
"You have no idea where those megawatts are going to end up," Lee said. "They could end up in the house next door."
As of Sept. 1, power provided by wind generation was expected to grow to 6,600 megawatts with more than 300 wind projects proposed representing more than 54,000 megawatts of additional generation capacity, more than any other part of the country.
| < prev | next > |