Wind farm development has a green light in Woodford County after the state passed legislation governing how taxes on the turbines are assessed, which could bring local taxing bodies $5 million in revenue. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's partial veto of House Bill 664 - including provisions on wind farm taxation - was overridden last week. The legislation, which took effect immediately, will require wind turbine owners to pay $9,000 per megawatt generated. "It is perfect," Woodford County Administrator Greg Jackson said. "It is ideal; $9,000 per megawatt is exactly what we wanted." Towers planned for Woodford County would generate 2 megawatts each, bringing in $18,000 each. That amount will decrease slightly annually based on depreciation.

The Warren County Board approved the land lease and wind easement agreement to erect the temporary met tower needed to measure tests on wind speeds. The met tower could be constructed as early as Friday if the weather permits. ...The board tabled voting on rezoning the section of county farmland that will be used for the wind farm. Board member Karen Starbuck asked for the vote to be tabled because the rezoning had not been brought up before the board at any other board meeting. She also said that she was confused to the wording of the document, and that she felt clarification was needed before the council voted.

Woodford County Zoning Administrator John Hamann said the permit for the wind tower would go to the county's Zoning Board of Appeals, likely next month, and then the County Board for ultimate approval. If approved, this would be the fourth wind farm project proposed by Navitas. Navitas was given the nod early this year to move ahead on a 79-turbine wind farm northeast of Benson before it was then sold to the Spanish utility Iberdrola, the largest owner of wind farms worldwide, which owns 30 percent of Navitas.

A wind energy developer may be getting some state sales tax breaks if local officials opt to expand an enterprise zone that stretches from Ottawa to Grundy County. ...the city has contacted the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, as well as the state's Department of Energy, with Invenergy's proposal, and the state is in favor of such incentives provided for alternative energy sources.

Tour group members took turns being photographed standing in different spots near the blade, trying to get shots in an angle that might adequately show the immensity of the rotor. Once in place, it will span 263 feet in diameter while spinning.

One of two companies seeking to build power-generating wind farms in the area has announced it will voluntarily comply with the stricter setback requirements recently approved by Stephenson County.

Horizon Wind Energy has proposed a new wind farm in the same areas of Livingston and LaSalle counties already under consideration by another developer. ..."This is not unique and this is an issue that is popping up all over the country as good sites become scarcer," Whitlock said. "There is no question that it is possible that turbines from two companies can be on the same land, but it is a bigger issue for the developers than it is for the landowners or the county."

The Erie wind turbine project has been a learning experience for both the school district and the builders. The $3.5 million project, which is expected to save the district some $4 million in energy costs over the next 30 years, has met delay after delay. The most recent is with a nearby landowner who wants compensation for the use of his airspace.

A McLean County judge has dismissed members of the County Board and zoning board of appeals from a lawsuit filed over a $250 million wind farm in McLean and Woodford counties. The suit, against Invenergy Wind LLC and county officials who approved special use zoning permits for the wind farm, was filed by Information is Power. The not-for-profit group is composed of residents who oppose the wind farm near their homes.

"The companies did everything they were technically supposed to do, but a lot of people were upset," said Beth Whisman of WJBC, a news-talk radio station in Bloomington, Ill. She said it was a hot topic among callers to her local talk show. "People felt like it wasn't fair that they didn't hear about it until the property was already leased or purchased, when they were informed about the public hearings," she said. "It was very heated."

But a national critic of the wind-energy industry doubts Chipotle will do much to reduce its reliance on conventional electricity in Gurnee. Lisa Linowes, executive director of New Hampshire-based Industrial Wind Action Group, said Chipotle likely is seeking a marketing advantage with the wind turbine. "They will have the symbolism of the wind turbine outside the restaurant to show the business is doing right by the environment," Linowes said. "If the intent was to lessen electricity use, they'd almost certainly do better by changing some of the light bulbs or decreasing their air conditioning use."

But Keeneyville's application has been jeopardized by the resistance from Hanover Park trustees, Mann said. "We're not going to issue a grant when there's not underlying support from the local community," he said. For the turbine to become reality, Hanover Park must amend an ordinance capping any structure's height at 150 feet, a rule that has been waived only for the village water tower, which stands at 168 feet.

MONMOUTH - The Zoning Board of Appeals met last Wednesday to discuss who would be responsible for the removal of the wind farms proposed for Warren County when they become unusable. The board made a recommendation to the county board that the company who would build the wind farms should be held responsible for the payment of their removal, not Warren County taxpayers. "We don't want the county liable for that..." said Bill Reichow, chairman of the county board.

Woodford County Board members will have to decide whether the financial benefit of a proposed wind farm will outweigh the conflict it would cause with its neighbors. The county zoning board of appeals has approved a plan by Navitas Energy to put up 42 turbines in El Paso just west of Interstate 39. County Zoning Administrator John Hamann says the county is waiting to find out how the wind farms will be taxed.

Woodford County Board members will have to decide whether the financial benefit of a proposed wind farm will outweigh the conflict it would cause with its neighbors. The county zoning board of appeals has approved a plan by Navitas Energy to put up 42 turbines in El Paso just west of Interstate 39. County Zoning Administrator John Hamann says the county is waiting to find out how the wind farms will be taxed. A proposal that awaits the governor's signature would set this wind farm's property tax at about $750,000 a year. El Paso has fought the project, fearing it will limit business development. The zoning board forced Navitas to move 6 turbines further away from the interstate, but the city wanted 12 of them relocated.

A controversial wind farm development west of El Paso won approval from the Woodford County Zoning Board on Wednesday despite objections from dozens of area residents and a plea from the city of El Paso to keep the turbines a distance from its limits. By a 5-0 vote, the Zoning Board approved a special use permit allowing the 40-turbine wind farm to be developed on more than 2,900 acres of property zoned for agricultural use. The permit needs final County Board approval before any construction can begin. But when or if the County Board gets to decide on the permit remains to be seen.

SULLIVAN - The wind will have to wait. The Sullivan school board has decided to hold off on bringing wind energy to the district. Superintendent Terry Pearcy said two main factors in the decision to wait Monday were the cost of metal and the weakness of the U.S. dollar versus European currency. Most of the wind towers are constructed in Europe, Pearcy said, would therefore be more expensive to purchase at this time.

PONTIAC - Experts assessing plans for a wind farm in Livingston County will attend today's County Board meeting. Representatives from the consulting firm Conestoga-Rivers and Associates and the law firm Schain, Burney, Ross and Citron Ltd, both based in Chicago, will be at the meeting, said Chuck Schopp, the county's zoning administrator. The firms, which specialize in environmental issues, have been hired to review the application from wind farm developer PPM Energy, of Portland, Ore. "They have basically looked at the application and have done an initial review, but we still do not have a complete application as we are waiting on things such as a noise study," Schopp said. "Since the application is not complete, the schedule for public hearings is unknown." The firms will introduce themselves and explain their role in the process.

One of the major concerns for Illinois counties looking to lure wind farms to the area is the tax assessment. That problem is now a step closer to being resolved. Thursday, during the prolonged legislative overtime session resulting from the budget impasse, the Illinois Senate voted 53-0 to pass legislation that sets an assessment rate. It still must pass the House and be signed by the governor. If enacted, the tax value would be $9,000 per megawatt for wind farms.

The La Salle County Board Thursday approved a special use to allow Invenergy to construct its proposed Grand Ridge wind farm. The project is to cover a nearly 6,000-acre area in Brookfield, Allen and Grand Rapids townships - but only take 40 acres of farm land out of production. The project will involve the erection of 66 wind turbines.