News
Category:
Illinois
Long-winded turbine talks could delay vote in Boone County
September 27, 2012 by Jennifer Wheeler in Rockford Register Star
September 27, 2012 by Jennifer Wheeler in Rockford Register Star
The debate surrounds the county's Planning Zoning and Building Committee's recommendation to change the wind energy code language to ensure it meets modern-day standards. ...The proposed amendments include doubling the distance between a primary structure and wind farm.
Also filed under [
General]
Joe Gulotta, who owns 180 acres, asked why there was such a sense of urgency with the project. Carellan said the sooner the project begins, the better, as investors want to see the wind farms built. ...Gulotta said he is wary of the project and is concerned about the financing of it with the current economy.
Also filed under [
General]
Ellison said the future expansion of wind energy all over the country depends on politicians in Washington, which he says makes it a risky business venture.
"You wouldn't put your money into something whose survival ability is contingent upon the government passing year to year tax credits," said Ellison.
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies]
Woodford clears Minonk wind-energy project for sale
September 19, 2012 by David Zalaznik in Journal Star
September 19, 2012 by David Zalaznik in Journal Star
By a 9-5 vote, the Woodford County Board approved a resolution that affirms the partial ownership transfer of the 100-turbine project being built near Minonk. The wind-farm developer, Gamesa Technology Corp., eventually plans to sell the entire project to Algonquin Power and Utilities Corp. of Canada.
Also filed under [
General]
Doug Huser, chairman of the zoning committee, believes Gamesa is violating the permit terms. He said he filed a complaint Monday with county Zoning Administrator Kim Holmes.
Huser's objections include how the project's decommissioning aspect is funded. He also has said the special-use permit issued in 2010 to Minonk Wind LLC violates a county zoning ordinance regarding transfers.
Also filed under [
General]
Peoria County Board denies couple permit for personal wind turbine
September 14, 2012 by Andy Kravetz in Journal Star
September 14, 2012 by Andy Kravetz in Journal Star
The rest of the board agreed with the half-dozen residents who spoke at the meeting that the wind turbine wasn't appropriate for the area, which is known for its scenic river views and abundant wildlife, including eagles and other migratory birds.
Also filed under [
General]
Boone County leaders consider changing wind power language
September 10, 2012 by Jennifer Wheeler in Rockford Register Star
September 10, 2012 by Jennifer Wheeler in Rockford Register Star
The county's Planning, Zoning and Building Committee has proposed doubling the distance between a primary structure, like a home, and a wind farm; increasing the number of structures from which windmills must be distanced; and placing language into the ordinance that details how to remove a windmill no longer in service.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
In its decommissioning plan, Mainstream said it would set aside about $13,000 for such a process in Lee County. That compares to the more than $6 million the company's expert said it would cost to bring down the wind farm.
Also filed under [
General]
Keep an eye on wind turbine talk, city council told
August 28, 2012 by Bob Shraluka in Decatur Daily Democrat
August 28, 2012 by Bob Shraluka in Decatur Daily Democrat
Wind turbines haven't often been on the minds of Decatur officials lately, but a rural Decatur resident, Doug Hartman, told city council this week that it should begin to take a good look at the local situation because it could be coming up in the near future.
Also filed under [
General]
Creating a wind farm watchdog? Officials still have to work out details
August 24, 2012 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
August 24, 2012 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
Just before the vote, Stanley proposed hiring a third-party site inspector who would look out for the interests of the county, Hahnaman Township and residents. Her idea was included as a condition for the wind farm.
Also filed under [
General]
At issue is whether the special-use permit granted to create the wind farm is transferable to a new owner. The Spanish wind farm developer agreed in the spring to sell four wind farms, including Minonk's, to Canadian-based Algonquin Power and Utilities Corp. in a deal worth about $900 million.
Also filed under [
General]
Wind farm development in Illinois, elsewhere likely to slow in 2013
August 19, 2012 by Brian Leaf in Rockford Register Star
August 19, 2012 by Brian Leaf in Rockford Register Star
While the DOE expects 2012 to be another strong year for new wind energy, development of wind farms will dramatically slow in 2013. That's because tax credits that provide wind energy producers 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour expire at the end of the year.
Deer Grove receives county backing on wind turbines
August 13, 2012 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
August 13, 2012 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
The village, population 48, has long said it has such power within 1.5 miles of the village limits.
Last year, the village enacted a zoning ordinance in the belief that it needed one to regulate nearby development of turbines.
Also filed under [
General]
"The (production tax credit) has been in place since 1992, I believe," Exelon Chief Executive Christopher Crane said in a conference call with investors and analysts Wednesday. "And I think that's enough time to jump-start an industry, 20 years. So we've made it known, even as a wind company, that it should be stopped."
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
Residents pick apart appraiser's wind report in Lee County
August 2, 2012 by Kiran Sood in Sauk Valley News
August 2, 2012 by Kiran Sood in Sauk Valley News
Concerned Lee County residents spent most of Wednesday night's wind hearing taking apart an appraiser's report.
Also filed under [
Property Values]
Whiteside County's zoning panel on Wednesday unanimously recommended the approval of a wind farm in the county's southeastern corner.
The decision followed more than 2 months of public hearings, including much feedback from nearby residents opposed to the project.
Also filed under [
General]
Mainstream is proposing nine turbines in far southeastern Whiteside County; all parties agree the county has jurisdiction over seven of them. But the village of Deer Grove asserts that it has power over two, both of which are within 1-1/2 miles of its limits.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning]
“Really, the economy is what’s driving it. If we have a quick economic turnaround, and unemployment goes down and the factories get up and running again, that’s a much higher power demand and that’s going to change things fast.”
Also filed under [
General]
How ComEd defections are killing green power in Illinois
July 16, 2012 by Steve Daniels in Crain's Chicago Business
July 16, 2012 by Steve Daniels in Crain's Chicago Business
With abnormally high utility rates prompting municipalities to contract with alternative power suppliers, the IPA's customer base is expected to shrink by as much as two-thirds next year. It will bar more long-term deals with renewable-energy developers. That's because the higher-than-market prices that wind and solar developments require would raise rates for the remaining utility customers by more than the 2 percent limit imposed by state law.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy]
Appraiser: Wind farm won't affect property values
July 11, 2012 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
July 11, 2012 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News
For most of the 2 1/2-hour meeting, Crowley was cross-examined by Rockford attorney Rick Porter, who is representing Hamilton Township and a number of private landowners fighting the wind farm.
Crowley conceded he didn't know the proposed height or width of the turbines.
Also filed under [
Impact on Economy|
Property Values]
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