Anticipating the construction of a wind farm in DeWitt County, the County Board formally adopted an ordinance governing the turbine towers Thursday night after more than two years of research and writing. But board members say more work on the ordinance is necessary before special-use permits are granted and towers are constructed.

Bureau County should experience additional activity in the coming months from area wind farms. At its April 15 meeting, the Bureau County Board took action on requests from Crescent Ridge 2, south of Wyanet in southern Bureau County, and also on requests from the proposed Big Sky wind farm, between Ohio and Walnut in northern Bureau County.

Efforts to locate two wind farms in Edgar County are already generating something - but it's not electricity. Edgar County Board member Dan Winans urged his fellow board members during Wednesday morning's meeting to sponsor a session for municipality and other government officials to discuss issues with experts from the Illinois Farm Bureau.

Iberdrola Renewables still plans to build its long-delayed 79-turbine Benson Wind Farm, setting its latest goal of construction by 2011-12. ...Woodford County Board vote[d] to lengthen setback limits from roads and dwellings.

A proposed wind energy farm off the coast of Northwestern's campus could cut a "gigantic" amount of Evanston's carbon emissions, said Nathan Kipnis, one of Chicago's best-known "green" architects. Citizens for a Greener Evanston recently drew up the proposal, which calls for 10 turbines above the waters of Lake Michigan, four miles off the NU shoreline and Dawes Park.

A proposal to more than double the setback requirements for wind turbines won't be heard by the Woodford County Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday night. The Conservation, Planning and Zoning Committee on Tuesday night withdrew its earlier recommendation to increase the setback to 1,800 feet from 750 feet.

Newcomb Township commissioners voted Tuesday to protest a proposed ordinance that would bring wind farms to Champaign County. In the 4-1 vote, commissioners noted concerns about wind turbines near the extensive Manlove Gas Storage Field in northern Champaign County.

Ben and Michele Anderson invite 350 of their closest friends and neighbors to their 40-acre farm in Waterman every July for a pig roast. This year, however, the guest list must be carefully drawn up. Because this year wind turbines - even if none are visible - will get in the way.

As wind farm developers look to put more windmills in Illinois fields, questions have been raised about the safety of crop dusters who have to navigate them. The issue is a clear one to Rick Reed, who owns an agricultural aviation company in Mattoon, Ill. "The more obstacles there are, the more difficult it is for us to get our jobs done ..."

A proposed change to the ordinance regarding wind farm setbacks will be the topic of a public hearing next week of the Woodford County Zoning Board. The hearing will be at 6 p.m. Thursday in the County Board room in the Woodford County Courthouse.

The wind farm debate that has raged across America has landed on Chicago's doorstep. Folks in quiet, rural DeKalb County are raising a ruckus at the possibility of 400-foot turbines next to their orchards, honeybees and livestock. About 700 people gathered in a high school gymnasium at 9 a.m. on a recent Saturday for a public hearing on the proposed wind farm. By the time the project developer had fielded every question and concern, it was 4 a.m. Sunday.

The public will have a chance to be heard once again on an energy company's proposal for a wind farm after the county's planning and zoning committee sent the application back to a public hearing. The DeKalb Planning and Zoning Committee voted 7-0 Wednesday on a motion to have a new public hearing based on an opinion rendered by DeKalb County State's Attorney Ron Matekaitis.

The public will have a chance to heard once again on an energy company's proposal for a wind farm after the county's planning and zoning committee sent the application back to a public hearing. The DeKalb Planning and Zoning Committee voted 7-0 Wednesday on a motion to have a new public hearing based on an opinion rendered by DeKalb County State's Attorney Ron Matekaitis.

When John and Pam Pitstick stand in their front yard later this year, they may see five turbines within a half mile, 1,400 hundred feet off the west side of their house. "Within two miles of our house, there's 27 turbines going up," said John Pitstick. Florida Power and Light wants to erect a wind farm with 151 turbines not far from a wind farm in neighboring Lee County. Each of the turbines planned for southern DeKalb County would be 100 feet taller than these with their blades topping out at 400 feet above the ground.

A hearing officer has recommended the county board deny a request for a special use permit to an energy company that wants to build and operate a wind farm in southern DeKalb County. ...The recommendation of DeKalb County Hearing Officer Dave Dockus stems from testimony given during a nearly 19-hour public hearing held Saturday in the gymnasium of Sycamore High School regarding a proposal by NextEra Energy Resources. At one point, 700 people were estimated to be in attendance at the hearing.

The basic advice for individuals approached about leasing ground for a wind turbine is to keep their eyes wide-open whenever entering a contract with a major corporation. The speakers also stressed it is important for land owners to know what limitations they can accept and be willing to walk away from the financial incentives if they believe the project will be too detrimental to their farming operations.

In a March 25 report, DeKalb County Hearing Office Dave Dockus recommended the special use permit that was applied for in January by NextEra Energy Resources be denied based on eight findings. Those reasons include "significant disagreement" between expert sources on the effect wind turbines have on property values and the effect noise of the turbines has on public health. Dockus also cited a lack of evidence on the impact heavy trucks would have on local roads.

Project officials say all 67 turbines have been erected for the EcoGrove Wind LLC wind farm northwest of Lena. Now, each turbine will have to be "commissioned" before the farm can begin generating power. When a turbine is categorized as "commissioned," it means the turbine is completely finished and ready for production, said Eric Schneider, director of communications for Acciona, the company that owns the project.

Hundreds of men and women of all ages flocked to the Sycamore High School gymnasium, 555 Spartan Trail, at 9 a.m., on Saturday to voice their opinions in a public hearing regarding the proposal of a wind farm in DeKalb County. What many of these attendees didn't know was that the hearing would last until about 3:40 a.m. the next morning.

More than 700 people filled the bleachers and folding chairs in Sycamore High School's gymnasium Saturday morning; just a handful stayed for the entire public hearing on a proposed wind farm, which stretched into the late evening. ...Hours of testimony were heard from company representatives, lawyers and more than two dozen nearby residents to gather information on the project and help the hearing officer make a recommendation to the DeKalb County Board. Public comments weren't heard until after 9 p.m.