With northern Logan County embroiled in a controversy over a plan that would dot the rural landscape with 400-foot-tall wind turbines, a new government report is predicting that in two decades, Americans could get as much electricity from windmills as from nuclear power plants. ...If achieved, it would be an astounding leap. Wind energy today accounts for only about 1 percent of the nation's electricity, although the industry has been on a growth binge with a 45 percent jump in production last year. ...But the report cautioned that its findings were not meant to predict that such growth would, in fact, be achieved, but only that it is technically possible.

On July 26, 2007, when the Illinois General Assembly joined 23 other states in passing renewable energy standards, lawmakers may as well have fired a starter pistol. The new standards, which require more wind-generated electricity, set off a scramble to find the most blustery ridges and the most power-hungry electricity markets in the state to blanket them with windmills. The surge has created a windfall for areas geographically positioned to convert wind into electricity.

So it wasn't until 8:08 p.m., when the forum resumed after a midpoint break, that candidates were asked a question about a hot-button issue in Livingston County over the last year: What is your position on wind-energy conversion systems? Richard Thomas, a District 2 candidate from Dwight, was the first to answer, because of the alternating system for the 12 participants to reply to a question. He said that the details must be looked at, including the impact of wind farms on property values and rights, and the long-term environmental impact. He added that the county needs planned growth in energy areas, including solar. ...Judy Campbell, like the previous two answerers a District 2 candidate, and from Cornell, disagreed. "This is industry, folks, this is not agriculture," she told the auditorium audience and listeners to the live broadcast by WJEZ. "Who's asking the residents what they want?" she asked. Country residents with two acres "aren't being asked" their opinions but need to weigh in, she added.

Despite some bad news in the energy bill signed by President George W. Bush last week, construction will continue on Bureau County's wind farms, at least for now. By large margins, both the House and Senate approved the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. Biofuels boosters were heartened by a five-fold increase in the production of ethanol. The mandate for U.S.-grown biofuels is 36 billion gallons per year by 2022, up from the current level of about six billion gallons. On the other side of the coin, those looking for power from the wind lost out with the loss of the production tax credit.

Legislation approved by lawmakers but still needing Gov. Rod Blagojevich's signature would create a uniform method for assessing the value of wind turbines and, supporters hope, make Illinois more attractive for future wind energy development. Under the legislation, which Mautino helped negotiate, wind companies could expect to pay around $9,000 per megawatt regardless of the county. The law also sets standards on depreciation and allows only 25 percent of the land where a turbine is located to be assessed for property taxes.

CHICAGO - The $1 billion electric rate-relief package that Illinois lawmakers approved this week contains not only savings for consumers but also an expected boon to the state's growing wind-farm industry. A provision of the bill that passed the House and Senate on Thursday requires utility companies to get increasing shares of their power supplies from renewable sources, especially wind turbines. The green threshold would start at 2 percent next year and would gradually increase to 25 percent by 2025, according to lawmakers and other proponents familiar with the details. Utilities previously agreed to voluntary goals, but environmental advocates have been pushing for binding requirements with penalties for companies that don't comply.

CAMBRIA, Wis. -- With empty storefronts on the main drag and corn stubble stretching for miles in the surrounding hills, this fading farm town seems like a natural stop for the ethanol express. Not to John Mueller, though. The 54-year-old stay-at-home dad has led a dogged battle to prevent a corn mill from building an ethanol plant up the hill from the village school. Concerned about air pollution, the water supply and the mill's environmental track record, Mr. Mueller and his group, Cambrians for Thoughtful Development, have blitzed the village's 800 residents with fliers, packed public meetings and set up a sophisticated Web site. The mill has fought back with its own publicity campaign and local corn farmers have taken to the streets in tractors to show support. Now, as the mill races to build the $70 million plant, the matter is headed to the federal courthouse in Madison, 40 miles southwest.

Chicago-based independent power producer Midwest Generation announced today that it has reached agreement with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on a comprehensive, long-range plan that will begin reducing mercury emissions from its power plants 18 months ahead of federal regulations, followed by multi-year programs to further cut other emissions at each of the company’s six plants in Illinois.

Consider it the war of the energy plans. The three candidates for Illinois governor all have proposals that would harness the state’s agricultural bounty to help fuel automobiles while developing the economy, though they differ on the scope of public assistance that should be offered. Democrat Rod Blagojevich, Republican Judy Baar Topinka and Green Party nominee Rich Whitney also favor requiring electric companies to get increasing portions of their power from renewable sources, such as wind turbines, in the wake of an Illinois Commerce Commission resolution that sets voluntary goals, rather than binding levels, for utilities.

Joining a burgeoning movement to address global warming, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday will order state government to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade. The election-year plan will require state vehicles and buildings to be cleaner and more energy efficient. But critics noted that unlike a new California law, the initiative fails to impose restrictions on private vehicles and coal-fired power plants, the largest sources of heat-trapping carbon dioxide. If Illinois fails to cut emissions by 6 percent by 2010, taxpayers will make up the difference by purchasing credits from the Chicago Climate Exchange, a voluntary market where corporations and governments trade the right to emit greenhouse gases.

The Sierra Club on Tuesday asked the U.S. Environmental Appeals Board to leave intact City Water, Light and Power's construction permit for its new coal-fired generator, which includes the purchase of wind power and emissions reductions the environmental group negotiated. Its filing is in response to Springfield developer David Maulding's request last week that the appeals board review the permit and strip it of the Sierra Club-negotiated requirements.

Gov. Blagojevich unveils ambitious energy independence plan to reduce Illinois’ reliance on foreign oil. Governor’s plan would meet 50 percent of state’s motor fuel needs with alternative homegrown sources made from crops and coal by 2017. Illinois would be the first state to achieve this level of energy independence; Governor sets goal of replacing 50% of our energy supply with homegrown fuels. Plan to triple ethanol production and invest in clean coal technology will create 30,000 new downstate jobs and save consumers billions of dollars

(AP) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Republican Judy Baar Topinka called Monday for a push to make Illinois the national leader in "clean energy" with a plan that includes new requirements for gas stations and power companies.

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois could have an advantage over Texas in the sweepstakes to land a $1 billion, nearly pollution-free power plant, the chief of the state’s coal association said Tuesday. Phil Gonet, director of the Illinois Coal Association, said Illinois’ abundant coal fields could give two sites in Illinois the leg up over two sites in Texas in the contest to land the FutureGen power plant project.

MONMOUTH - All citizens of Warren County are invited to attend a public hearing set to begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, in the boardroom at the Warren County Courthouse.

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced the launch of the $4 million Renewable Energy Development (RED) Fund that will support community-scale wind energy projects throughout Illinois.