The legislation would remove Illinois from a 13-state power grid that is expected to alter its pricing structure to favor electricity generated by fossil fuels. If Illinois lawmakers don’t approve the bill by June 1, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will raise the price that Illinois and the 12 other states pay for nuclear power, among other energy sources, so that the price for electricity produced from gas and coal remains competitive.

Energy Policy Illinois

Residents are upset over the placement of a new wind farm. It's happening in rural McDonough and Warren counties, where some residents said they don't like the new form of energy, as it now sits in their backyard. Some residents said it's the constant humming noise.

Impact on People Illinois

Residents are upset over the placement of a new wind farm. It's happening in rural McDonough and Warren counties, where some residents said they don't like the new form of energy, as it now sits in their backyard.

General Illinois

Fifty concerned landowners showed up at the Albany Fire Station in Whiteside County on Feb. 10, sharing fears of loss of land values and quality of life when a wind farm is built in agricultural neighborhoods. Eric Smith has leased 225 acres between Kennedy, Stone, Archer, and Benson roads to Gipper Wind Farm, a division of Scout Clean Power LLC of Colorado. A tower has been constructed to determine if there is enough velocity to power 75-125 generators (turbines).

Zoning/Planning Illinois

On Thursday night, the ZBA rejected the special-use permit by a 5-1 vote after 17 nights of testimony from Tradewind Energy and opponents of the proposed Alta Winds Farm project for the 12,000-acre project in Barnett, Wapella and Clintonia townships. The permit will be forwarded to the county board but a date on when the board will consider the permit has not yet been announced.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

Apex Clean Energy, the company orchestrating the Lincoln Land Wind Project in eastern Morgan County, is looking at areas near Modesto, Scottville and Virden in Macoupin County for another wind farm project.

General Illinois

Scout Clean Power LLC, a renewable energy development company based in Boulder, built the 198-foot-tall “temporary meteorological tower” in Garden Plain Township in mid-December. ...If the tests prove fruitful, the company plans to seek approval to build Gipper Wind Farm, which likely would require about 75 to 100 turbines to achieve an output of 200 megawatts a year.

General Illinois

The elusive winged mammals who make special appearances in decorations and throughout popular culture during the fall are under increasing threats across the state and the Midwest, the victim of a stubborn and spreading disease, shrinking natural habitat and a growing wind turbine industry. And with new changes to the Endangered Species Act, scientists and environmental advocates fear additional species of bats may be under siege from encroaching development and a changing, warming climate.

Impact on Bats Illinois

GALVA — Opponents of a proposed wind farm in east-central Henry County gathered at Black Hawk East College Wednesday night to hear about the impact of wind turbines on quality of life and the local landscape.

Impact on People Illinois

Although the Indiana bat is listed as federally endangered, or in danger of becoming extinct, the Illinois Bat Conservation Program (www.illinoisbats.org) researchers have netted more of these bats than the once common little brown bat, which is not protected, and the northern long-eared bat, which is a threatened species at risk of becoming endangered.

Impact on Bats Illinois

There aren’t many options to recycle or trash blades, and what options there are is expensive, partly because the U.S. wind industry is so young. It’s a waste problem that runs counter to what the industry is held up to be: a perfect solution for environmentalists looking to combat climate change, an attractive investment for companies like Budweiser and Hormel Foods and a job creator across the Midwest and Great Plains.

General Illinois

The board will not accept applications for special use permits for about 18 months while commissioners revise the ordinance, board Chairman Robert Elmore said.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

Rick Porter, the attorney for the 15 neighbors, said he had “yet to deal with a 50-page motion to dismiss.” “It seems they're trying to litigate the entire matter in a motion to dismiss,” he said, adding that it was “before we even have a chance to bring in witnesses” in a trial. He said his clients were “citizens hiring an attorney battling a mega-company with an unlimited budget.”

Legal Illinois

A proposed wind farm on the Mississippi River bluffs near Valmeyer has been the subject of much debate since last summer. The most recent development occurred Aug. 19, when the Monroe County Board approved a moratorium on wind farms.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

The board had voted down an addendum to the project’s decommissioning and restoration plan last month, which would have allowed BSW DevCo LLC (the company that owns Big Sky Wind) to use tilt/fell method over the crane method during the current repowering project. Big Sky is in the process of updating its turbines for more efficient models.

General Illinois

Construction has already begun for the new Harvest Ridge Wind Farm in Douglas County, but that hasn’t stopped an area village and more than 50 individuals from filing a pair of lawsuits against the project.

General Illinois

Last December, seven of the 12 board members indicated they would support a turbine setback of 2,250 feet from property lines to protect nonparticipating residents from the nuisances turbines can create, such as noise or shadow flicker, or the dangers associated with turbines catching fire or breaking. During a meeting of the board’s zoning committee on Monday night, however, two board members said they feel such a setback should only apply to residential land, not nonresidential properties.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

Apex Clean Energy has proposed constructing 80 to 120 wind turbines in rural Morgan County for the Lincoln Land Wind project, but was waiting on updates to a Morgan County ordinance that came Monday. The Morgan County commissioners approved an updated ordinance addressing wind farms after more than a year of work on details of the regulation.

Zoning/Planning Illinois

The new ordinance increases setbacks from 1,000 feet from a house’s foundation to 1,650 feet from the foundation of the home of a non-participating landowner and 1,320 feet from the foundation of the house of a participating landowner. ...“It’s disappointing,” said Mike Woodyard, who has been advocating for larger setbacks from the property line. “It’s a sad day when our county board refuses to recognize the rights of a property owner at the property line.”

Zoning/Planning Illinois

Morgan County landowners who have signed on for a wind farm project may be getting a notice from the company they leased their land to. On Tuesday, the Ad Hoc Citizens For Property Rights Group reported that they had received documents in a FOIA request stating that participating landowners have had their leases sold to a new company – Lotus Wind LLC.

General Illinois