Members of the Vermilion County Board have narrowly approved some revisions to the county’s Wind Ordinance. The vote increasing the setback for wind turbines from residences passed 11 to 9 last evening (Tuesday), with two members abstaining and five absent.
County Board member Kevin Green thinks the change is a ‘’win-win for everybody involved’’….
{AUDIO: ‘’It does still allow development of wind farms, but also offers some more protection to non-participating land-owners in the country. And (it) also offers some additional participation opportunities for other non-participating land owners in the country.’’}
The setback had been 1.1 times the height of the wind turbine. Last night’s vote changes that to 3.0 times the height even though representatives from a wind company urged the board not to do it.
Tom Healy, Project Director for Liberty Power, says his company already has lease agreements on 14,000 acres of land between Fairmount and Sidell.
County Board member Jerry Hawker supported the set-back revision….
{AUDIO: ‘’It will give the people who live around it a little more distance. The towers will have to be farther away. And it still gives the landowners the opportunity to have towers on their land. So, I think it’s a good compromise all the way around.’’}
Healy says Liberty Power has been exploring the latest development in wind towers that are 656 feet tall – instead of the 490 foot towers used in the California Ridge project. He said the taller wind turbines generate more power – so fewer of them would be needed. California Ridge is the wind farm that has 134 turbines stretching across northern Vermilion County into part of Champaign County.
Vermilion County Board Chairman Larry Baughn says it appears there currently are three different companies considering placing new wind farms in the county. One is eyeing the area around Ridge Farm. Another is Liberty Power’s proposed Mural Energy Project in the Fairmount – Sidell area. The third possible new wind farm involves a company that has had a test tower up in the Rankin – East Lynn area.
None of the companies have officially filed their plans with the County Board Office.
