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A third of Lee County Board members have taken a stand on the controversial proposal for a wind farm in the county's southwestern corner.
The rest either are undecided or haven't returned Sauk Valley Media's calls for comment. The 24-member board will vote on the wind farm Tuesday.
Lee County wind: Board leader pushes compromise
May 17, 2013 by David Giuliani in Bureau County Republican News
May 17, 2013 by David Giuliani in Bureau County Republican News
The chairman of the Lee County Board still supports a proposed wind farm, but he is pushing a compromise that would include strong conditions on the project.
Rick Ketchum, D-Amboy, said he and others are working on the conditions. He provided few details.
A glimmer of hope for wind farm; Chairman says he'll vote against panel's decision
April 27, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
April 27, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
Gusse, however, said it would be "damn foolishness on our part" to approve the wind farm after the zoning board held 80 hours of meetings to review the project. He said he didn't like the idea of putting a wind farm in a flood plain.
Ireland-based Mainstream has indicated it would keep $13,721 on hand for the possible decommissioning of the 53-turbine wind farm. But opponents say the cost of taking down the turbines would cost millions.
Panel to begin deciding on whether to recommend wind farm changes
April 18, 2013 by Tracy Moss in The News-Gazette
April 18, 2013 by Tracy Moss in The News-Gazette
The nine-member panel will be weighing public comments made during Monday night's public hearing in Potomac, which was scheduled by county officials in response to several citizens calling for changes to the county's ordinance, especially increasing the distance a wind turbine can be built from houses and other structures.
A large group with plenty of opinions on both sides of Vermilion County's wind turbine issue turned out Monday night for a public forum.
The crowd of both onlookers and speakers filled the expanse of bleachers along the southern wall of the gymnasium at Potomac Grade School. More than 40 speakers - 37 from Vermilion County - signed up to step to the podium.
Both sides of wind issue to speak out; Pro and con have had to keep quiet
April 16, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
April 16, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
While the zoning board voted on findings last week, the wind farm's attorney, Doug Lee, and company officials sat silently. So did opponents.
Today, Keith Bolin of Mainstream and Rick Porter, a Rockford attorney representing wind farm opponents, are on the agenda.
A bad night for wind company; Panel points to noise, flicker issues
April 11, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
April 11, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
In a 4-1 vote, with member Bruce Forester dissenting, the board found that Mainstream's petition didn't sufficiently protect neighbors from shadow flicker. And members unanimously ruled that the proposed setbacks weren't enough to mitigate the problem. ...The board also decided to back recommendations from the state Department of Natural Resources to create a 1-mile buffer around the state's Foley Sand Prairie Natural Preserve and a half-mile buffer around other natural areas.
Currently, the county's wind ordinance calls for a setback of 1,200 feet from the primary structure on a property. Nesbitt, at the February committee meeting, asked for a moratorium on the ordinance and suggested the setback be increased to 1,320 feet from any property line and 2,600 feet from any structure.
Lee County does not plan to use the rubber stamp this time.
Historically, wind energy companies have driven the county's process in reviewing proposed wind farms. ...Since then, local opposition to wind farms has increased. Neighbors complain about noise, vibrations and shadow flicker from turbines. And they say wind farms have reduced the value of their properties.
For months, the county bizarrely fought against the public's right to have access to that information. All 28 Lee County Board members stayed publicly quiet as this happened.
The transcripts were done by a court reporter hired by Mainstream Renewable Power ...The proposed wind farm is controversial. Many neighboring residents don't want it, fearing their property values will decline, among other concerns. They want all the information they can about the project.
Company kills wind farm proposal; Other firms withdraw energy project bids
January 11, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
January 11, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
Gamesa USA had planned the Whispering Prairie wind farm for Ogle, Winnebago and Stephenson counties.
But in November, the company informed landowners that it was terminating the lease options for wind turbines.
The company said it found the wind project wasn't commercially viable.
Bureau Valley reassessing wind turbine's usefulness; Turbine losing money
January 3, 2013 in Star Courier
January 3, 2013 in Star Courier
Is the Bureau Valley wind turbine an asset or liability?
The Bureau Valley District 340 Board of Education heard a report on the turbine's performance at a recent meeting.
But Brooklyn Township trustee Wesley Englehart said the company needs to make at least $620,000 more in improvements to township roads and bridges.
He said the township's lawyer is working on the situation and that Goldwind has nearly $1 million in an escrow account to deal with such problems.
In one instance, Englehart said, the company must replace a big box culvert.
"The members felt a strong obligation to follow the ordinance," member Barry Welbers said. "They did follow it stringently. Whether it's the most perfect ordinance, that remains to be seen."
Welbers said he voted down the turbines because the company's plan didn't comply with the ordinance.
No details on wind hearings; County not offering complete minutes
November 10, 2012 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
November 10, 2012 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
At this rate, the wind-farm money could be used to cover projected deficits for the next 10 years, according to Janssen. But board members authorized about $200,000 in additional expenses Tuesday night.
About half of that was for the probation department, to be used in connection with juvenile crime cases.
Follow-up File: Southwind turbine back in operation
October 8, 2012 by John Reynolds in State Journal-Register
October 8, 2012 by John Reynolds in State Journal-Register
Stratton said the park district had been trying to get the turbine repaired since January, but the manufacturer of the turbine, a Canadian company called ReDriven, declared bankruptcy this summer, and replacement parts weren't available.
Area wind farm projects on hold as tax credit expiration looms ahead
September 30, 2012 by Matt Hopf in Quincy Herald-Whig
September 30, 2012 by Matt Hopf in Quincy Herald-Whig
Wind farms proposed in the region are on hold as the future of a wind energy tax credit remains in limbo.
The proposed 150-megawatt Panther Creek Wind Farm is currently on hold as Congress has not indicated whether it would extend the credit.
Suzlon sues Edison unit over payment for turbines to Big Sky
September 28, 2012 by Natalie Obiko Pearson in Bloomberg News
September 28, 2012 by Natalie Obiko Pearson in Bloomberg News
"Big Sky's unwillingness to make the mandatory prepayment on the mandatory prepayment date is motivated by not only the challenge faced by Big Sky in selling power in a sluggish renewable energy market, but also by reason of the precarious financial situation of Edison" which has said its unit may have to file for bankruptcy.
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