Members of Vermilion County’s Wind and Solar Committee will hear more testimony September 9th about a proposed windfarm across the northern part of the county. Bill Pickett has more…
At a hearing which began Monday, Musketeer Wind Energy, LLC outlined plans to erect up to eighty-one wind towers. Project manager Greg Vasilion says their plans already have wide support. Some of that support comes from the Hoopeston Area School District where Mark Eighner is the Business Manager…
{AUDIO: “Well, as far as the school district, everything is based on money that comes from the state, the federal government and local dollars. So, local dollars – it’ll come through EAV (equalized assessed value) – this will increase our EAV, and it’ll funnel into the different funds through the district. So it’s welcome revenue.”}
Eighner is also the village board president in Rankin and says that town could get some nice benefits from the project…
{AUDIO: “At the end of the day I’m just kinda basing everything on facts. And the facts are the Village of Rankin has no new revenue. And it’s welcome in our community because it’ll allow us to tear down dilapidated homes. It’ll allow us maybe police protection. I don’t know what the board is going to do, but it is money that we don’t have today.”}
Vasilion (the project manager), says economic benefits from the wind project are estimated to exceed $100-million dollars over the next thirty years….
{AUDIO: “Of that $100 million dollars – over $45-million dollars will be going to the Hoopeston School District. … This is a significant, significant opportunity for the Hoopeston School District. There are, of course, other taxing bodies. Fifteen-million to Vermilion County, seven-million to DACC (Danville Area Community College), and then a variety of townships, road districts, libraries, fire departments and other schools. There is – again – a very significant tax impact for this project.”}
Joyce Romine of rural Potomac noted the benefits being quoted by Vasilion would be spread over 30 years. And when some citizens asked how much Musketeer is paying landowners for easements or ‘good neighbor agreements’ they were told that information is confidential.
Michael Marous, who conducted a market impact analysis, told the committee there would be no negative market impact.
Musketeer Wind Energy would provide a decommission agreement which would cover costs of removing the wind turbines – even if they are no longer owned by Musketeer Wind. Testimony in the hearing will be considered by the Vermilion County Board when it decides whether to approve a permit to allow the project to proceed.
