[Rockford attorney Rick] Porter, who represents nine owners near the Emden area, said he expects the decision to be overturned. "We intend to file an appeal, and we believe the courts will see that there were mistakes made in the zoning process," Porter said. "More than anything, though, our clients wanted some sort of guarantee that the property values would not suffer, and the board wasn't willing to include that as a condition of the permit." The permit allows using land zoned for agricultural use for a wind farm.

Plans for a wind farm near El Paso have been stalled for nearly a year because of township road issues, but now an agreement and final vote may be a month away. Paul Lewis, attorney for wind farm developer Navitas Energy of Minneapolis, and Robert Lenz, representing commissioners in El Paso and Palestine townships, say progress has been made on an agreement on maintenance of township roads. A stipulation from the Zoning Board of Appeals a year ago required an agreement between township road commissioners and the company before a special-use permit could be granted.

By a 17-4 vote with three abstentions, board the 155-turbine project proposed by Spanish wind farm developer Iberdrola Renewables. It will be built on sites scattered across 15,000 acres between Saunemin and Odell. ...Supporters of the project have said the wind farm would be a financial boon for farmers who will rent space for the turbines and taxing bodies that collect property taxes. Dissenters have said the turbines will block other economic development around them and could reduce property values.

Tazewell County State's Attorney Stewart Umholtz warned Tazewell County board members Monday that he would be required to "take legal action" if the county board approves a questionable expansion of a tax-free zone for a proposed wind farm. County Chairman Jim Unsicker says that Umholtz is entitled to his opinion, but that opinion is not shared by many people. "(Umholtz's) view on the expansion of the enterprise zone is diametrically opposed to the view of a number of people on the board, the state, the city and just about anybody else you want to talk to in the state of Illinois," said Unsicker.

Logan County State's Attorney Tim Huyett disagrees with his friend and Tazewell County counterpart on a legal issue related to whether the Rail Splitter Wind Farm qualifies for inclusion in an enterprise zone. The agency that administrates all of the state's enterprise zones also disagrees with Tazewell County State's Attorney Stewart Umholtz, who has threatened to sue his own county board if it extends that county's enterprise zone to the wind farm locale, which straddles the Logan-Tazewell county line.

The Woodford County Board once again postponed voting for 30 days on the El Paso wind farm, deciding instead to take up the development at its Aug. 19 meeting. Board members reached the decision by a 10-5 vote Tuesday night after lawyers representing the project's developer, Navitas Energy, and the township road commissioners affected by the wind farm said they were close to striking a deal. By delaying the vote on the 40-turbine wind farm, just as they did at their May meeting, some board members said they hoped both sides would return with a settlement.

Horizon Wind Energy and Railsplitter Wind Farm faced the last major hurdle with local governments Tuesday evening. ...board member Pat O'Neill said, "I believe these people at least need an explanation as to why they can't get a property value guaranty on their property." At that time a representative for the group opposing the wind farm read a statement explaining their need for the plan. It said that when Horizon first began negotiations with landowners, the company refused to talk to homeowners. So the property owners hired an attorney to protect their rights. ...The board approved the land use for wind power with nine voting yes. John Stewart and Chuck Ruben abstained for conflict of interest. Bill Sahs was absent for surgery. Opponents to the wind farm have said that they would not let it drop if the county passed the measure. They have 90 days to file an appeal that would next be heard in a district court.

Whether a wind farm will be built in Livingston County now is up to the County Board, which will meet Thursday. The board’s agriculture and zoning committee agreed Tuesday to submit the Streator Cayuga Ridge South Wind Farm proposal to the full board after spending two hours reviewing the latest proposed conditions for the project’s permit. While it modified conditions for a permit, the committee opted not to vote for or against recommending the project itself. It forward the proposal to the County Board on a voice vote without a recommendation.

Woodford County Board members once again took up the issue of a proposed wind farm, and once again the board postponed the vote. At Tuesday night's meeting, the attorneys for both sides announced they were coming close to reaching an agreement, but they hadn't reached one yet.

After the zoning board of appeals ended its hearings earlier this month, Porter said he would more than likely appeal the decision if no property value guarantee is granted. If a guarantee is part of the agreement, Porter said it would probably be enough to ease his clients' concerns. Horizon does have a Neighbor Easement Agreement that it will offer to residents living in the vicinity of the wind farm. The document outlines an agreement in which Horizon will allow for payments to landowners living near the immediate vicinity of turbines, in exchange for "an easement, right and entitlement on, over, across and under owner's property for any sound level (audible or otherwise) in excess of 50 decibels ..."

Barb Aper, a Logan County resident, questioned who would stand up for the people who would be living near the wind turbines and didn't want them. She said named three county board members that she didn't think would. Chuck Ruben's family stands to gain financially, and John Stewart works for a company that makes a component for wind turbines. She said that Dick Logan has made biased statements toward the group and dismissed a request to table the matter. She felt that the board was more interested in growth than in their own citizens. Sheryl Wagoner said that the wind turbines threaten home and property values, health, and a way of life. She charged the board, "Represent all of us."

The Walnut Ridge wind turbines won't be blowing in the wind any time soon. At Tuesday's meeting, the Bureau County Board voted unanimously to table action on granting conditional use permits for the turbines until the road agreement plan with the county is approved. The board also tabled granting conditional use permits to build three substations for the Walnut Ridge project in northwest Bureau County. County Engineer John Gross said the county ordinance states the road agreement must be approved and adopted prior to the issue of conditional use permits.

A straw poll of County Board members revealed overwhelming support for a special-use permit for the Horizon Wind Energy project. ...Prior to the straw vote at the board's committee of the whole session Thursday, several Logan County residents, including many from the Emden area near the proposed site, aired their feelings. Several were members of Union Ridge Wind, a group formed to oppose the wind farm. "It appears this board has been working hand in hand with this company for four years," said Barb Aper, who opposed the wind farm. "Why have you not worked hand in hand with the citizens of Logan County? Who can we turn to?"

Union Ridge Wind took its plea to the Logan County Board Thursday to either deny a conditional-use permit for Horizon Wind Energy to build a wind farm in northern Logan County or to include a property value guarantee to insure against any potential loss of members' assets. Opposing lawyers - Rockford attorney Rick Porter, representing URW, and Horizon's attorney Frank Miles - were on hand, along with both opposition and proponents of the wind turbines. Following the arguments, a motion to approve the conditional-use permit passed with a 9-2-1 vote. Since the meeting was a workshop session, official votes won't be counted until Tuesday.

Ultralight pilots and proponents of wind turbine use in Boone County are pleased with new zoning laws adopted Wednesday by the Boone County Board. But the massive changes have drawn the ire of residents who say turbines and ultralight aircraft will infringe on residents who will suffer lower property values and noise pollution, among other problems. A public hearing is still required and a zoning map must be approved before the new rules take affect. The new codes require newly-built wind turbines to be placed at least 1,000 feet from homes.

"(Information is Power) intends to pursue legal actions as long and as far as necessary to stop the inappropriate placement of the White Oak wind energy facility," said a statement issued by the group. "The merits of the case are substantial and include numerous constitutional violations that occurred during the process of approving the special use permit for the construction ... of 100, 137-ton, 499-foot (tall) wind turbines in an area that includes no fewer than 450 households," the statement reads.

About 175 citizens attended the sixth of the long hearings on Tuesday evening. It took 2 1/2 hours, but everyone who had not spoken in the past was given opportunity to speak for the record. Those in favor spoke mostly of the economic benefits to the area. There was also some mention that it would meet our society's need for electricity as a nonpolluting, renewable resource. Those opposed were mostly concerned about land values, visual and sound intrusion that would alter the quality of life, and possible health effects. About 40 citizens were present for the closing hearing and decision on Wednesday evening. Thompson said, "We're here to look at the wind farm application and how it does or does not meet conditional use guidelines, and the specifics of the zoning ordinance as it applies to the wind tower/wind farm."

The issue of whether a wind farm should be built in Livingston County will come back to a county committee on July 15, after members have digested the information they received Wednesday night. The board's agriculture and zoning committee took up the question of whether Iberdrola Renewables should get a special-use permit to build Cayuga Ridge South Wind Farm, a 155-turbine project scattered across 15,000 acres between Odell and Emington. The committee on Wednesday reviewed the Zoning Board of Appeals findings...

The Railsplitter Wind Farm in northern Logan County has jumped through a big hoop in becoming a reality. After about an hour of deliberation at the Hartsburg American Legion Wednesday, the Logan County Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously voted to recommend the county board approve the project. Attached to the recommendation is a list of 18 concerns, which county zoning officer Will D’Andrea requested. ...After the meeting, a few tears could be seen from members of the audience who were opposed to the wind farm. However, two members of Union Ridge Wind left with the ominous messages: “It’s not over,” and “To be continued.”

After hearing an end to both public comments and closing arguments, the Logan County Zoning Board of Appeals tonight will make a decision on whether to grant a conditional-use permit to allow Horizon Wind Energy to construct 29 wind turbines in northern Logan County. The board also has the option of adding conditions to the permit, including a property value guarantee proposed by Union Ridge Wind attorney Rick Porter. ...Catherine Fogler, a representative from Union Ridge Wind, voiced her final concerns to the board. Fogler said she has medical problems, which, she added, are very expensive, and giving up value on her property was not a risk she could take. "We did not make a bad decision (regarding our property)," said Fogler. "The decision was made by others.