News
Category:
Illinois
A third of Lee County Board members have taken a stand on the controversial proposal for a wind farm in the county's southwestern corner.
The rest either are undecided or haven't returned Sauk Valley Media's calls for comment. The 24-member board will vote on the wind farm Tuesday.
Also filed under [
General]
Lee County wind: Board leader pushes compromise
May 17, 2013 by David Giuliani in Bureau County Republican News
May 17, 2013 by David Giuliani in Bureau County Republican News
The chairman of the Lee County Board still supports a proposed wind farm, but he is pushing a compromise that would include strong conditions on the project.
Rick Ketchum, D-Amboy, said he and others are working on the conditions. He provided few details.
Also filed under [
General]
Hoopeston wind farm building permit extended for a year
May 11, 2013 by Tracy Moss in The News-Gazette
May 11, 2013 by Tracy Moss in The News-Gazette
The extension also allows the project to adhere to parameters set out in Vermilion County's original wind ordinance, requiring turbines to be 1,000 feet from a primary structure, which includes houses.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
A glimmer of hope for wind farm; Chairman says he'll vote against panel's decision
April 27, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
April 27, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
Gusse, however, said it would be "damn foolishness on our part" to approve the wind farm after the zoning board held 80 hours of meetings to review the project. He said he didn't like the idea of putting a wind farm in a flood plain.
Also filed under [
General]
Panel blows off wind farm; County Board has the final say
April 25, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
April 25, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
By a 3-2 vote, the Zoning Board of Appeals recommended denial of Ireland-based Mainstream Renewable Power's proposed 53 turbines. The County Board, which meets May 21, has the final say.
The decision ended a decade in which the wind energy industry largely drove the county's approval process.
Also filed under [
Legal|
Zoning/Planning]
John Alexander, chairman of the panel, said that setbacks are really the one area where the county has some authority. Alexander said residents who live as far as 1,600 feet or more from turbines have testified that they are affected by the noise.
But the panel also discussed that if the setbacks are increased more than the existing 1,200 feet, it could eliminate any further development for wind energy.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
Ireland-based Mainstream has indicated it would keep $13,721 on hand for the possible decommissioning of the 53-turbine wind farm. But opponents say the cost of taking down the turbines would cost millions.
Also filed under [
General]
Vermilion County board still up in air on wind turbine rules
April 19, 2013 by Brian L. Huchel in The Commercial-News
April 19, 2013 by Brian L. Huchel in The Commercial-News
The issue of wind turbines remained up in the air on Thursday as the panel assembled to discuss the issue adjourned without a decision.
Selected county board members as well as other community representatives meet at noon Thursday to discuss comments and information provided by residents who attended a public forum on Monday regarding wind turbines.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
Panel to begin deciding on whether to recommend wind farm changes
April 18, 2013 by Tracy Moss in The News-Gazette
April 18, 2013 by Tracy Moss in The News-Gazette
The nine-member panel will be weighing public comments made during Monday night's public hearing in Potomac, which was scheduled by county officials in response to several citizens calling for changes to the county's ordinance, especially increasing the distance a wind turbine can be built from houses and other structures.
Also filed under [
General]
A large group with plenty of opinions on both sides of Vermilion County's wind turbine issue turned out Monday night for a public forum.
The crowd of both onlookers and speakers filled the expanse of bleachers along the southern wall of the gymnasium at Potomac Grade School. More than 40 speakers - 37 from Vermilion County - signed up to step to the podium.
Also filed under [
General]
Both sides of wind issue to speak out; Pro and con have had to keep quiet
April 16, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
April 16, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
While the zoning board voted on findings last week, the wind farm's attorney, Doug Lee, and company officials sat silently. So did opponents.
Today, Keith Bolin of Mainstream and Rick Porter, a Rockford attorney representing wind farm opponents, are on the agenda.
Also filed under [
General]
A bad night for wind company; Panel points to noise, flicker issues
April 11, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
April 11, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
In a 4-1 vote, with member Bruce Forester dissenting, the board found that Mainstream's petition didn't sufficiently protect neighbors from shadow flicker. And members unanimously ruled that the proposed setbacks weren't enough to mitigate the problem. ...The board also decided to back recommendations from the state Department of Natural Resources to create a 1-mile buffer around the state's Foley Sand Prairie Natural Preserve and a half-mile buffer around other natural areas.
Also filed under [
General]
Currently, the county's wind ordinance calls for a setback of 1,200 feet from the primary structure on a property. Nesbitt, at the February committee meeting, asked for a moratorium on the ordinance and suggested the setback be increased to 1,320 feet from any property line and 2,600 feet from any structure.
Also filed under [
General]
Pingree sets new rules for renewable energy devices
April 4, 2013 by Ryan Klassy in The Courier-News
April 4, 2013 by Ryan Klassy in The Courier-News
Wind turbine towers on lots less than one acre can be no taller than the height of the home, plus 10 percent. The tallest allowed is 125 feet, and those only on lots of five acres or more. None can be located in the front yard.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
A turbine near their house, Schwartzbach said, was a constant bother. "It produces loud humming sounds. At night it's ubearable. We turn on the TV to drown it out, so we can fall asleep. We don't hear the crickets at night or birds in the morning."
Also filed under [
Impact on People]
Lee County does not plan to use the rubber stamp this time.
Historically, wind energy companies have driven the county's process in reviewing proposed wind farms. ...Since then, local opposition to wind farms has increased. Neighbors complain about noise, vibrations and shadow flicker from turbines. And they say wind farms have reduced the value of their properties.
Also filed under [
General]
Elgin wind energy exec was at White House for second visit
March 10, 2013 by Mike Danahey in The Courier News
March 10, 2013 by Mike Danahey in The Courier News
An interview with Royer for The Courier-News about the meeting that had been set for Monday afternoon was cancelled Monday morning. Carol Gieske, president of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, said, "It was a closed meeting, so he is unable to discuss what transpired."
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
Michael Creech had planned to retire at the family homestead, a two-story farmhouse among square miles of farmland east of Hope in western Vermilion County.
But he said he's changed his mind ...mostly because of the noise. There are three different noises, a whooshing sound from the blades turning, a droning noise that he compares to a jet engine, and noise from the motors when the turbines change position.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Noise]
Before, wind firms drove process; Today, it is harder to get turbines OK'd
March 6, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley
March 6, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley
Once upon a time, getting approval for a wind farm in Lee County was relatively simple.
Those days are gone.
For the latest proposal to build wind turbines, the county had 26 meetings that took up 65 hours.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
Turbine blade breaks caused by isolated issue, manufacturer says
March 5, 2013 by Will Brumleve in News-Gazette
March 5, 2013 by Will Brumleve in News-Gazette
An "isolated manufacturing issue" caused two wind turbines in East Central Illinois to break last year, the manufacturer of the towers said Monday.
Also filed under [
Safety|
Structural Failure]
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