Some citizens from southwestern Vermilion County are voicing concerns about a proposed wind and solar farm in their area. Russell Puzey of rural Fairmount was one of the citizens who addressed the Vermilion County Board…
Audio Player{AUDIO – ‘’I am concerned about quality of life issues and the impact on farm and home drainage. The towers and solar panels will be a nightmare to clean up by future generations, along with other unknown consequences. Probably my biggest concern is the negative impact on property values of our homes.’’}
Heide Craddock is also concerned about the proposal…
Audio Player{AUDIO – ‘’Many of us enjoy the ability to hunt deer, geese and other wildlife – and that will change with the installation of turbines. We know that turbines kill many raptors and bats. Wind turbines will take away a lot of rich fertile farmland, and impact the natural environment that feeds our wildlife, and the migration of many species including Monarch butterflies.’’}
Todd Adams’ brother bought the area known as the Fairmount quarry and (Todd) told the County Board what they discovered there….
Audio Player{AUDIO – ‘’While spending time on the property deer hunting we noticed more and more migratory ducks and geese started showing up. By mid-December we had over a hundred-thousand migratory birds using this property. We then realized we had a refuge. We were told by a local friend…that we were in for a treat, but never imagined what we were witnessing.’’}
After talking with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Adams said he is proud that a Wetlands Restoration Project is now in the works in that area….
Audio Player{AUDIO – ‘’The Wetland Restoration Project will not reach its full potential if these wind turbines and solar modules are permitted to be installed, as they will have a negative impact on the migratory birds returning to the quarry. We will have created a great refuge – yet there will be no birds that will come. They will not fly through these turbines.’’}
County Board Chairman Larry Baughn reacted to the citizen comments…
Audio Player{AUDIO – ‘’I appreciate everybody that came tonight and spoke to us, and their cares and concerns. And as we move forward, again the State’s somewhat tied our hands now with that last House Bill that passed with different setbacks. But, again, I still think there’s a little room there for the counties to have somewhat of a say in there. And make some of these companies stand by that and do the letter of the law. And there’s no running around what ordinance counties have on the books.’’}
Baughn says the company proposing the new wind and solar farm in the Fairmount area has been asking a lot of questions, but so far it has not applied for a permit.
