Some proposed revisions in Vermilion County’s Wind Ordinance are headed to the full County Board for consideration. Board Chairman Larry Baughn explains the vote taken Thursday evening by the Finance and Legislation Committee….
{‘’They had voted tonight to pass onto the County Board the new ordinance updates that would put the set-backs – I guess is the biggest contentious point of it – at 3.0 times the height. And we’re currently at 1.1, so we’ll send it to the full County Board and get their thoughts.’’}
Jessica Harre represents an engineering company that is doing environmental work for the proposed Liberty wind and solar project in southern Vermilion County. She says Liberty has concerns about proposed changes in the ordinance…
{‘’The proposed set-back in section seven of the ordinance of 12-hundred feet or three times the height of the tower – whichever is greater – is overly burdensome. It makes it extremely difficult to site turbines in compliance with this requirement. Liberty believes this requirement will inhibit future development of wind farms in the county and ultimately decrease the investment in the county….}
County Board Chairman Baughn says multiple companies are now exploring possible new wind farms in Vermilion County….
{AUDIO: ‘’Right now looks like there’s three different proposals out there, Bill — one down in the southern area around the Ridge Farm area. And then you’ve got Sidell – Indianola. And then there’s a test tower right now up in the Rankin – East Lynn area, too.’’
The proposed set-back may become a moot point if legislation which is now pending eventually establishes statewide set-back requirements. The legislation is expected to be considered later this year.
