"Generally everyone was pretty happy about the message that we were able to get out," he said Friday about the show of force, adding the project's future still appeared uncertain. In the past, Chairman John Krug barred people from speaking on the wind farm for fear of litigation and having to start the entire ZBA process over again because the project had gone through the county's zoning process and not yet formally come before the board. That restriction was loosened Thursday. El Paso Mayor Herb Arbuckle said the meeting led him to lose confidence in the board. He said he feels he must monitor its actions and those of its committees. "I plan on making every meeting I can possibly make," he said.

The wind in woodford county is causing quite a stir these days. "In a small community it's the highlight of the year," said John Krug, Woodford County Board Chairman. It all revolves around a special use permit before the Woodford County board that could allow a 40 turbine wind farm near Route 24 outside El Paso. "We're going to hear a lot of things from a lot of people, at some point the county board will be voting yes or no on the special use permit for the El Paso wind farm," said Krug. Those opposed to the El Paso wind farm say it brings up economic, quality of life and environmental issues.

Taylor's attorney, Chris Spanos, argued Tuesday that wind turbines pose health and safety risks. He said wind turbines are inconsistent with an agricultural situation. "Is this consistent with what's already there?" Spanos asked. While recapping evidence presented during several days of testimony, Spanos pointed out that a few of Horizon's projected noise levels are not in compliance with the Illinois Pollution Control Agency's standards. "Mr. Taylor has a right to keep those noise levels below, anywhere," said Spanos, who is also representing seven land owners opposed to the erection of the turbines. ...Attorney Frank Miles for Horizon apologized to the ZBA for getting them involved in an anti-wind debate. He began his closing argument by reminding the ZBA that the Tazewell County Board approved of wind power plants in Tazewell when they created an ordinance for the power generating structures.

A resolution on the El Paso wind farm May 20 brought a crowd that exceeded the 128-person limit allowed by local fire codes.Committees have forwarded three resolutions about the wind farm to the full board, but only one is on the agenda for Thursday. It is labeled "amended (3) final agenda." It offers the services of the board to serve as a facilitator between Minneapolis-based Navitas and township highway commissioners.

The fate of a contentious wind farm proposal is now in the hands of the Tazewell County Zoning Board of Appeals. A final public hearing was held Tuesday night on the Rail Splitter Wind Farm, proposed by Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy LLC, and residents on both sides of the issue made their feelings known in a last-ditch effort to sway the board's opinion. ...Chris Spanos, an attorney who represents several objectors, said the project is not in compliance with noise standards, and some residents will be unfairly affected by the project.

At the meeting, it is expected the board will discuss the controversial El Paso wind project, which two separate committees tried and failed to place on the agenda. There is a resolution on the agenda asking the board to serve as a facilitator in the ongoing negotiations between wind farm developer and the affected road commissioners.

The Tazewell County Zoning Board of Appeals met Tuesday night to hear from a representative of Horizon Wind Energy, the company hoping to build a wind power plant that will lie partly near Delavan. The project's director of development, Bill Whitlock, sat through three hours of questioning from lawyers and members of the public, many of whom had voiced their objections to the power plant at similar hearings in the past.

Member Carolyn Gerwin asked the zoning board to consider "what's good for the county as a whole" and said it was uncertain if the federal tax credit for wind energy will be extended. "This industry is not profitable without these massive subsidies," she said. Gerwin also contended that the 155 turbines planned, and scattered across 15,000 acres, will limit a new, countywide economic development organization's ability "to plan and have options" to attract business developers. She also referred to studies made for Iberdrola's predecessor PPM Energy, "that reach the right answers," said the farm would not create "a lot of new jobs" compared to communities 30 miles from the county along Interstate 55, and asked that a decommissioning plan for the towers be "in a legally enforceable format from a company that has resources."

Officials with a proposed wind farm won't find out if the project is getting a green light from Tazewell County officials until June, and yet another hearing has been scheduled for community input. In Logan County, where 29 wind turbines are targeted for construction, the project's itinerary of public hearings and red tape is back to square one because of a legal snafu. The Rail Splitter Wind Farm proposed by Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy LLC needs the final approval of the Tazewell County Zoning Board of Appeals, but the board has rescheduled its deliberations until possibly June 4 or June 5.

An overflow crowd that violated the meeting room's fire-code occupancy limit kept the Woodford County Board on Tuesday from considering the El Paso wind farm project. The meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m., but the room's 128-person capacity was met shortly after 6 and Sheriff Jim Pierceall began stopping people at the door. As many as 40 people were denied entrance. Many, but not all, wore buttons opposing the proposed 40-turbine development by Minneapolis-based Navitas that has been stalled for lack of a road maintenance agreement between township road commissioners and the company.

Iberdrola Renewables continued on Tuesday to say its proposed wind farm project offered the "right time, right team and right place" to benefit Livingston County, but residents still seem divided on the issue. ...Livingston County Board member Carolyn Gerwin said the wind farm could hinder future development because developers might be limited to where they can establish facilities. Others said they did not want to see neighbors move away because they were disturbed by the turbines. "You might gain 25 employees, but how many people will leave," Melinda Cusack of Blackstone said.

Board Chairman John Krug called the Tuesday evening meeting to order about a half an hour late after he, State's Attorney Michael Stroh and other county officials tried in vain to find an alternate location that could accommodate the overflowing crowd. Shortly after the meeting's roll call, Stroh told the packed group the meeting was postponed until 6:30 p.m. May 29. The exact location, still undetermined Tuesday night, will be announced soon through the local media, he added. "As you all can see tonight, we got a lot of people in the room and we have a couple issues in regards to that with the law," he said before the standing-room-only group.

Resolution 67 - asking the Woodford County Board to grant a special use permit for a 40-turbine wind farm development near El Paso - has prompted a board tug-of-war, as some members clamor to keep the controversial project on the agenda and others want it taken off. The back-and-forth has led to four separate agendas for tonight's meeting being sent out to board members or posted for public viewing. ...More than a few people are now confused as to the future of the resolution and of the proposed wind project, which would sit on nearly 3,000 acres between El Paso and Secor and straddle U.S. Route 24. "I don't know what the situation is," said board member Larry Whitaker, who has led the charge to put the project on the agenda. "We'll just have to see how this thing plays out."

The developers of a proposed wind farm in northern Logan and Tazewell Counties have pulled their application for a special use permit, but say the project will still go forward. Bill Whitlock is the project development manager for the proposed Rail Splitter Wind Farm. Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy is the developer for the project. "We're going to cancel the application and refile it in June," Whitlock said. "We just want to make sure we have everything in order."

The Will County Board has approved rules for devices that convert the power of wind into electrical energy. Residents in unincorporated Will County have expressed interest in using these devices on their property to reduce energy costs, according to the resolution that the board passed Thursday. The new ordinance allows small wind devices in some residential areas, with a minimum lot size, and keeps neighbors' well-being in mind, said Jim Bilotta, R-Lockport, chairman of the county board's land use committee.

"Everybody wants alternative means of energy," said board member Jim Bilotta. "The key was putting something together that protects the neighborhood." The ordinance restricts wind turbines to county residential or commercial properties at least an acre in size. Noise levels cannot exceed 60 decibels, about as loud as a typical conversation between co-workers at neighboring desks. Roof-mounted turbines cannot be taller than 15 feet above the home, while the height of backyard turbines can vary with the size of the property.

Experts testified Thursday on behalf of a proposed wind farm, but a decision on whether or not the project gets county approval won't happen until the end of the month. The Tazewell County Zoning Board of Appeals has been holding public hearings since April 1, getting public input on the proposed Rail Splitter Wind Farm by Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy LLC. Horizon presented a real estate appraiser and an expert on noise pollution, both of whom told the board the 67-tower project would have no negative effect on property values or quality of life. "They would not be injurious or have any negative impact on the area," said Greg Zak, a noise pollution expert from Springfield.

Tazewell County's zoning board of appeals sat through another long night of testimony Thursday night, giving one Delavan resident a chance to fight the erection of a proposed wind power plant. At Thursday night's hearing, two experts answered a thorough line of questioning and cross examination from lawyers, ZBA members, Tazewell County Board members and the public. ... The ZBA plans to deliberate May 27, at which time members will decide whether or not to recommend to the county board that Horizon be approved to build the wind power plant.

Apparently trying to avoid a legal battle down the road, the developer of a proposed wind farm has temporarily pulled its application for a special use permit in northern Logan County after failing to properly notify residents of wind towers that would be near their property. ...Rockford attorney Rick Porter, representing a group of residents who oppose the wind farm, last week filed a motion against Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy LLC, saying the company did not properly notify all residents it was supposed to as required by state statute.

A proposed wind farm has temporarily pulled its application for special use permits in Logan County after failing to properly notify residents of wind towers that would be near their property. ...Rockford attorney Rick Porter represents a group of residents who oppose the wind farm and filed a motion against Houston-based Horizon Wind Energy LLC, saying the company did not properly notify all residents it was supposed to as required by state statute. "Notice was only sent to people within a quarter-mile" of proposed towers, Porter said.