News
Category:
Illinois
Tensions were high at Thursday night's Adams County Board of Zoning and Appeals meeting as a crowd gathered to hear the board's decision regarding a proposed wind test tower being constructed in Adams County.
Also filed under [
General]
Company resubmits wind farm application in Vermilion County
January 18, 2012 by Tracy Moss in News-Gazette
January 18, 2012 by Tracy Moss in News-Gazette
Unlike other counties in Illinois that already have wind turbines, Vermilion County does not have countywide zoning. In 2008, when local economic development officials began working with wind farm developers interested in the area.
Also filed under [
General]
The county's current setback distance is 1,400 feet, which is a little more than a quarter mile, the same as Whiteside County's.
Some people have said that's too close. At a recent meeting, Zoning Board member Tom Fassler suggested a mile.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
Settlement limits Libertyville wind turbine's hours of operation
January 17, 2012 by John Roszkowski in Lake County News-Sun
January 17, 2012 by John Roszkowski in Lake County News-Sun
Under the proposed settlement agreement, Aldridge has agreed to limit the hours of operation of the wind turbine from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and to comply with village standards in order to limit noise and address other nuisance concerns of the neighbors.
Also filed under [
General]
Bassetti said the company had already admitted its wrongdoing.
"They acknowledged they were in the wrong place, or they wouldn't have bought property to fix it," he said.
Herrmann said the county would still need a surveyor to testify.
Board member Steve Sondgeroth asked if there was any provision in the county's zoning ordinance to pass the costs along to the company, but Herrmann said a general violation of the zoning ordinance just carries a fine.
Also filed under [
General]
According to the agreement, hours of operation would be limited to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the turbine will not operate on Sunday or six national holidays.
The parties agreed to settle the case but the document approved by the village board is being reviewed by residents and could change.
Also filed under [
General]
For much of that time, the panel has based its changes on a proposed wind energy ordinance in neighboring Ogle County. Members have made small changes to the Ogle County proposal in many cases.
But in more recent meetings, the board seems to be deviating from that procedure.
Also filed under [
General]
Attorney Rick Porter, representing a Lee County landowner, contended the public should have been given access to the proposal. And he said it seemed as if only representatives of Ireland-based Mainstream Renewable Power, which is planning a three-county wind farm, had a copy.
Also filed under [
Noise]
A Vermilion County Board committee meeting for the county's second wind farm has been scheduled for later this month.
Also filed under [
General]
No one should bank on it, but the Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals might finally dig its teeth into the biggest issue related to wind energy regulations.
That would be the required distance between wind turbines and homes.
On Dec. 15, the panel spent the last 10 minutes of its 2-hour meeting looking at the setback issue.
Also filed under [
Impact on Landscape|
Impact on People]
Developers asked to pay five times more per turbine in Iroquois County
December 31, 2011 by Will Brumleve in The News-Gazette
December 31, 2011 by Will Brumleve in The News-Gazette
The Iroquois County Board will begin requiring the developers of wind farms to pay $50,000 in financial securities for every wind turbine they build - five times what previously was required - to protect the county in the event a wind farm operator goes bankrupt and abandons its project.
Also filed under [
General]
McMahon said he believes the company is moving now to go through the permit process to avoid facing higher permit costs. Currently, GDF SUEZ Energy North America Inc. has paid a permit fee of $47,000, but would be eligible later next year for higher permit fees.
Also filed under [
General]
Some counties have shorter setbacks; at least one county's is greater. A few months ago, Brown County in central Illinois voted in a 2,000-foot setback, which may be the state's longest.
In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker proposed a statewide 1,800-foot setback.
Also filed under [
General]
Ogle County residents to vote on cheaper energy option
December 21, 2011 by Michael Peppers in WREX TV 13
December 21, 2011 by Michael Peppers in WREX TV 13
Ogle County Board members also voted to extend it's wind farm ban until February 2012. This gives the Assessment Planning and Zoning Committee more time to review recommended changes to the county's wind farm ordinances.
Also filed under [
General]
Wind farm lawsuit against DeKalb County, landowners is settled
December 21, 2011 by Jeff Engelhardt in Daily Chronicle
December 21, 2011 by Jeff Engelhardt in Daily Chronicle
Citizens for Open Government - a group of local residents opposed to the wind turbines in the county - dismissed the lawsuit Friday after reaching a settlement with NextEra, the builders and operators of the wind farm and one of the many defendants.
Also filed under [
Impact on People]
The board delayed action on noise regulations, but it began discussion on the setback distance.
The board's chairman, Ron Conderman, recommended keeping the current 1,400 feet ...Fassler suggested a mile, which he said would require wind farms to negotiate with everyone in that area. Neighbors shouldn't have to negotiate after wind turbines are up, he said.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Shadow flicker]
Members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 officially began picketing this week at the Bishop Hill Wind Project currently under construction in Henry County.
Also filed under [
General]
Heartland board hears new wind turbine proposal
December 13, 2011 by Patti Welander in The Pantigraph
December 13, 2011 by Patti Welander in The Pantigraph
About a third of the 96 acres Heartland Community College acquired last year may become home to a power-generating wind turbine.
The college's board heard Tuesday a proposal to locate a wind turbine on 35 acres on the north end of the new property and to the west of its current campus buildings at 1500 W. Raab Road, Normal.
Also filed under [
General]
"The lack of a clear U.S. energy policy and resulting uncertainty regarding the market need for renewable energy;
"Reduced forecasts for load growth for most of the area utilities due, in no small part, to the economic downturn and the resulting reduction in forecasted need for renewable energy.
Also filed under [
General]
Rob Widmer, vice president of business services at Heartland, said the Board of Trustees might have to reconsider the turbine's location because of safety issues with how close the structure can be to buildings when there is ice coming off it.
Also filed under [
General]
| << Idaho | Indiana >> |