A decision tonight by the Boone County Zoning Committee angers people opposed to building wind turbines there. The turbines would be built on about 70 acres of land owned by the North Boone School District, and would be used to power the schools in that area. People who live nearby say they want more land separating them from the turbines, but county leaders didn't see the necessity in that. The zoning committee ruled to keep wind turbines 1,000 feet from surrounding properties, instead of increasing that distance.

A proposed wind farm in Livingston County was recommended for approval Monday and now moves to the County Board. The Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously voted to recommend Iberdrola Renewables' plan for the Streator Cayuga Ridge South Wind Farm, a 155-turbine project scattered across 15,000 acres between Odell and Emington. ..."The process was very interesting and none of us have ever done this before, except the consultants of course, so we were kind of learning as we went along" [acting chairman] Walters said.

Two people who spoke in opposition, property owners Ed and Nancy Knittle, along with Renee Taylor, already live in an area where wind farms are up and running. The Knittles stated that, before buying their property, they were assured by Horizon Wind Energy the turbines wouldn't be a disturbance. "We can hear turbines while brushing our teeth," said Knittle. "And we see flickering lights on our fireplace. It's extremely upsetting." Nancy Knittle said she chose her property, because "nature was my thing. "They never told us about blade flicker or red flashing lights ... it's totally devastating," she said. "We were falsely misguided. I tried to honor and respect the company and keep this confidential, but I just can't do it anymore."

The Livingston County Zoning Board of Appeals will reconvene Monday to deliberate on the special-use permit for the Streator-Cayuga Ridge South Wind Farm, including consideration of a 24-item set of possible conditions to the permit. The board reviewed those conditions and heard concluding remarks from two representatives of the project's developer when the board met Thursday night at Pontiac Township High School, with about 50 people in the audience. The board agreed not to begin deliberations because one member, Don Thorp, was unable to attend the session. He will get a report on what the board discussed.

Porter argued that the actual company building the turbines, Railsplitter Wind Farm, LLC, could not provide financial security. Porter said until the turbines area actually provided to RWF by Horizon, the wind farm itself has no assets and only one employee, Whitlock. No person has yet been hired by this company to construct or operate the wind farm, Porter argued. "The board can't look at the credibility of the people operating these turbines," said Porter. Regarding any property tax benefit the county would see from the turbines' construction, Porter argued this also could not be established. "Isn't it true each year the county will see less tax dollars (due to accelerated depreciation)?" Porter asked.

Tonight's zoning board of appeals hearing may be the last before a decision is made on whether to issue a conditional-use permit to Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy. The permit would be a green light in constructing 29 wind turbines in the northern section of the county, mainly in the Hartsburg-Emden area. County zoning officer Will D'Andrea told The Courier Wednesday that lawyers for both sides have been asked to wrap up arguments at today's 7:30 p.m. hearing at Hartsburg-Emden High School in Hartsburg.

Construction on the $300-million Big Sky wind farm in southeastern Lee and northern Bureau counties is on hold for at least 10 months, thanks to a problem its supplier is having with faulty turbine blades. The 13,000-acre, 114-turbine project near Ohio was slated to be online by the end of this year, but blades nearly the length of a football field started cracking on some U.S. wind farms early this year. Big Sky builder, Edison Mission Energy, has therefore opted to wait until April at the earliest to resume installing the towers, corporate and municipal officials said.

The Livingston County Zoning Board of Appeals will hear the closing statement at 7 p.m. Thursday from the developers of the proposed Cayuga Ridge South Wind Farm. Then it will be time for the board to start deliberations, to determine if the project complies with the eight standards for special uses that county zoning specifies. ...Under county zoning, the Zoning Board of Appeals "must find the proposed Special Use complies with" the required standards, "however, the criteria for determining the acceptability of a Special Use shall not be limited to" the standards.

Navitas Energy, the Minneapolis-based company wanting to develop a wind farm near the city of El Paso, has told the Woodford County Zoning office it will relocate six proposed turbines it first planned to put within a half-mile of Illinois Route 24. The statement, made last week but which officials said has been in the works for several months, came after the city of El Paso objected to the project's original plan that listed 12 turbines within a 1 1/2-mile radius of the city. El Paso eventually filed a letter asking the six turbines neighboring Route 24 be removed from the area. ...The city opposes the 12 turbines placed nearby, saying the towers would stunt future development.

Public input was bitter and confrontational at this week's Woodford County Board meeting. The board has discussed ways to respond to the input - mostly in opposition to the proposed El Paso wind farm -including having board Chairman John Krug refer issues to the appropriate public official or board committee for an answer. ...Teresa Gauger of El Paso earlier told the board that "my quality of life does not include a wind project," and asked the judicial committee to investigate board members Larry Whitaker of Eureka and Gary Jones of East Peoria for "bid rigging" as members of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission.

One of the most crucial details in the county allowing Horizon's plan is the County Road Upgrade and Maintenance Agreement. Aukamp has been working with Horizon representatives since the project's inception to ensure county roads will be in better condition after construction of the wind turbines. He approached the road and bridge committee first about establishing the agreement in March and has made clear to public officials the importance of making sure county roads are protected. This agreement outlines both Horizon's financial and physical responsibilities, where county roads are concerned.

And on and on it goes. Despite testimony and public comment beyond 10:30 p.m. Thursday, the Logan County Zoning Board of Appeals' hearings on wind turbine construction are still not complete. Rick Porter, attorney for Union Ridge Wind, presented testimony from appraiser Steve McCann at the ZBA hearings Thursday at Hartsburg-Emden High School. ...McCann said all of Porter's clients were located in the footprint of the Rail Splitter project, which means they have properties likely to be encompassed on multiple sides by the 400-foot tall structures. McCann stated in other situations he has experienced, companies erecting structures in close proximity to residences have either offered a property value guarantee or have simply bought out the effected properties.

Both opponents and supporters of Horizon Wind Energy's plan to erect 29 wind turbines in northern Logan County soon will have the opportunity to voice their opinions - possibly tonight, but most likely on Tuesday evening. A public forum was set for 7:30 p.m. at Hartsburg-Emden High School tonight and was supposed to be the last step in the Logan County Zoning Board of Appeals' process before making a recommendation to the full county board. ...Residents interested in voicing their concerns either for the construction, or against it, are encouraged to attend tonight's meeting.

Ultralight aircraft and wind farms were the focus of residents with their eye on a massive overhaul of Boone County zoning rules Wednesday. As proposed, the new zoning laws could get ultralights back in the air in Boone County and would set a precedent for wind farms, which previously lacked detailed guidelines. ...An original proposal set the distance at 2,000 feet from property lines and occupied dwellings. But some believe that distance would make it nearly impossible for anyone to set up a wind turbine operation. The code now calls for 1,000 foot setbacks from homes and 1.1 times the height of the tower from property lines.

Construction of the EcoGrove wind farm in rural Stephenson County started last week. ...As this project gears up, EcoEnergy is investigating possible expansion and Phase II — into Jo Daviess County. “That’s in the feasibility stage,” Rigas said. Expansion plans may include property just across the Stephenson County line, adjacent to the site. “We’re talking to property owners there,” Rigas said. “If we’re successful and the county supports the project, (it) would be ... constructed next year.”

The Logan County Regional Planning Commission placed its seal of approval on a land use zoning request that would allow 29 wind turbines to be built in northern Logan County. ...Commission member Dave Evans asked Logan County zoning officer Will D'Andrea about a letter received from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. D'Andrea said that the IDNR would require the company to have studies performed that would measure and monitor pre- and post-construction, observing any change in wildlife habitat, presence of certain species and impact studies. The results of those studies could lead to the company's construction times working around mating seasons or migratory patterns.

While the Tazewell County Zoning Board of Appeals was approving a proposed wind farm Wednesday, dealing a blow to opponents who hoped to stop the project, the hearing process on the project in Logan County was just restarting. The Logan County Regional Planning Commission, repeating an action it had taken earlier, recommended the approval of a conditional-use permit for the construction of 29 wind turbines in the northern part of the county. ...Meanwhile, at the Pekin zoning board of appeals hearing, some Tazewell County residents were equally disgruntled with that board's decision. "Obviously, we're not happy with it," said Delavan resident Beverly Egli, whose home will be surrounded by wind towers in the Rail Splitter Wind Farm.

The Tazewell County Zoning Board of Appeals approved a proposed wind farm Wednesday, dealing a blow to opponents who hoped to stop the project. "Obviously, we're not happy with it," said Delavan resident Beverly Egli, whose home will be surrounded by wind towers in the Rail Splitter Wind Farm, proposed by Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy LLC. The board deliberated for three hours before unanimously approving special use permits for the project that will cover more than 11,000 acres of farmland straddling Tazewell and Logan counties just east of Interstate 155.

Erecting wind turbines in Tazewell and Logan Counties is being met with some resistance. But Tazewell County Zoning Board of Appeals votes to give the wind farm company a special usage permit. After more than two hours of deliberation the seven-member board voted to give Horizon, the energy company, the permits for the wind farm under myriad conditions. Two main issues of concern for board members was the problem concerning noise and property values.

Horizon Wind Energy and its opponents are back for Round 2. An announcement in The Courier Monday from the Logan County Regional Planning Commission notified property owners of the second round of hearings on the proposed Rail Splitter Wind Farm. Horizon is reapplying for conditional use permits to begin construction of the 29 wind turbines in northern Logan County near the Hartsburg area. ...Phil Mahler, Logan County's regional planner, said the county was extra vigilant in making sure all property owners involved were notified, so the process could continue without any glitches.