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.
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.
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.
"I think it would be beneficial for us to have a meeting with the people who are dealing with this statewide," said Winans.
He expressed concern the county and the various local governments lack the ordinances to protect publicly owned infrastructure, such as roads, from damage caused by the heavy construction equipment needed to construct wind farms.
Winans is additionally worried the …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]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.
"I think it would be beneficial for us to have a meeting with the people who are dealing with this statewide," said Winans.
He expressed concern the county and the various local governments lack the ordinances to protect publicly owned infrastructure, such as roads, from damage caused by the heavy construction equipment needed to construct wind farms.
Winans is additionally worried the county's absence of zoning may prevent local officials from having a voice in siting issues.
According to Winans, two wind farm projects are presently in the works. One farm proposes to follow the glacial ridge that extends across the Edgar-Vermilion County line and is expected to have windmills stretching from Douglas County into Indiana.
The second project in the Kansas area utilizes ground in both Edgar and Coles Counties, and it appears to be further along in development.
"I understand the people involved with the Kansas project have started negotiating leases and a test tower is in place," said Winans.
He quickly added the lease agreements between the wind farm developers and various land owners are individual matters and not an issue for county government.
"My concern is what happens when they are trying to maneuver these giant rotors on township roads," said Winans.
Board president Jim Keller acknowledged a need to be proactive as indications are the interest in wind generated electricity is likely to continue expanding.
"I've had a half-dozen companies call me," said Keller. "As of now, there hasn't been any follow-up."
Winans volunteered to continue his contacts with the Farm Bureau experts in an effort to arrange a meeting specifically for elected officials.