BLOOMINGTON - The McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a third public hearing Thursday on Horizon Wind Energy's request for a special-use permit to build an expansion of the Twin Groves Wind Farm expected to cost in excess of $400 million.

The hearing, the first opportunity for opponents of the permit to give testimony, will be at 7 p.m. at the county's Government Center, 115 E. Washington St. Two more hearings for permit foes may be scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 9 and 10, also at the Government Center.

Only two hearings were needed in 2005 when Horizon sought a special-use permit for Twin Groves. The extra hearings this time don't concern Caton Fenz, project manager for the proposed Black Prairie Wind Farm.

"Wind farms were fairly new back in 2005," he said. "People know more about them now, and want more information about them. It's important that as many people as possible give their opinions before the Zoning Board makes its decision on our permit request."

Horizon wants to build the 300-plus turbine Black Prairie on about 36,000 acres in Anchor, Blue Mound, Martin and Towanda townships, across Illinois Route 9 from Twin Groves.

Fenz said the turbines themselves would take up about 38 acres and generate enough electricity for 270,000 homes.

Black Prairie would be north of the 240-turbine Twin Groves, which is in rural Arrowsmith, Ellsbrook and Saybrook. Energy generated by Twin Groves is sold wholesale to several retail electric companies across the country.

Horizon officials say Black Prairie would produce more than $4.2 million annually for area taxing bodies, including more than $2 million for the Colfax-based Ridgeview School District and almost $500,000 for McLean County.

Nearly 400 construction jobs are expected to be created while the wind farm is built. More than 100 jobs would be created to maintain the facility.

Fenz said Horizon's decision to propose the Twin Groves expansion was an easy one.

"Twin Groves has been a success. We know the wind is good there," he said. "And we have a lot of support from landowners for the expansion. More than 200 landowners who own more than 36,000 acres have voluntarily signed lease agreements."

McLean County planning and zoning staff members have given Horizon the thumb's up for Black Prairie, concluding that Horizon has met the county's seven requirements for a special-use permit.

However, County Building and Zoning Director Phil Dick said staff identified nine other requirements Horizon must meet to begin construction.

Among the requirements, Dick said, are road agreements with McLean County and the four townships where Black Prairie would be located.

If the Zoning Board approves Horizon's special-use permit by next month, the permit could be on the agenda at the McLean County Board's Dec. 15 meeting.

If the board approves the permit Dec. 15, Fenz said, construction on the Twin Groves expansion could begin as early as late fall 2010, with completion expected in 18 to 24 months.