Golden Illinois
The Village Board of Clayton passed a ban on wind turbines within 1.5 miles of its borders in early January of 2011, making it the second Adams County community to enact such restrictions. A recent survey by the board reportedly found that 88 percent of the town's citizens were in support of the measure. According to the Quincy Herald-Whig:
Two public hearings were held — one in August and another in October — to hear from residents of Clayton and landowners surrounding the village on wind energy restrictions. Comments during the public hearings from those opposed to turbines near Clayton warned that it would limit any potential growth of the community, could have potential health effects and provide the town any tax dollars.
Additionally, resident Diane Haschemeyer of Golden said her family initially agreed to lease land within the 1.5-mile radius for a wind turbine, but they have since changed their mind after visiting a wind farm in Wisconsin.
“I will tell you right now, we did not hear one positive comment,” said Haschemeyer, who believes the noise level of turbines was misrepresented to them when they made their initial decision. “That wind farm has been up and running for over three years.”
Proponents argued that it would provide tax revenue to school districts and other taxing bodies and provide additional revenue to local farmers.
Clayton, Golden and Camp Point are in an area where Acciona Energy North America and Global Winds Harvest proposed building a $300 million, 96-turbine Prairie Mills Wind Farm.
Because Clayton has zoning powers, it is within its legal rights to enact such a ban. The nearby village of Golden does not have zoning laws, but has nonetheless passed a legally-questionable zoning ban on wind turbines.
Coincidentally shortly, after this final ban was enacted Acciona Energy withdrew from the Prairie Mills Wind Farm plan .
Here is the complete statement from the companies: “The Prairie Mills wind project has been an exciting joint venture for ACCIONA and Global Winds Harvest. From the beginning, we saw this project as one of high value set to provide Adams County with renewable energy for years to come. This view has not faltered. Aside from energy production, the Prairie Mills Wind Project will increase property tax revenue, promote long-term income to family owned farms, propel job creation and reduce our nation’s dependency on foreign fossil fuels.
ACCIONA’s resources are currently focused on expanding in other regional markets. For this reason, Global Winds Harvest will take ownership of the project and continue to increase the project’s value while taking it to completion. Both companies have been actively working together to develop this project and are excited to have Global Winds Harvest carry the project forward.
Despite Acciona’s withdrawal from the project, Plans are still under way for the 96-turbine Prairie Mills wind farm in western Illinois' Adams County.
Source Quincy Whig Herald
Prairie Mills Wind Farm project still moving forward but little new information
6 comments:
K,it would be interesting to know whether Illinois has a policy similar to New York's Article X.
As You may know there are numerous communities in New York which have adopted prohibitive bans on industrial turbines,including nearby Henderson, and the town of Meredith, the subject of the documentary film "Windfall".
Each of theses ordinances were adopted because of documented negative impacts that these communities felt could not be mitigated, or were not compatible with their long range community development goals,much like the situation that exists in Cape Vincent.
D LaMora
Illinois is a “home rule” state, where local governments have the explicit right to make their own policies protecting the public good.
Illinois Summary/Overview:
Generation Illinois Public Act 90-561, effective December 1997, deregulated electric generation and removed the Illinois Commerce Commission’s plant siting authority, although utilities may ask the Commission for siting approval (at their option).
The only remaining plant siting authorities in Illinois are the zoning boards of local communities.
Proposed generation facilities must also comply with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency rules.
Transmission
The Illinois Commerce Commission reviews permit applications for electric transmission lines.
Lines with voltages as low as 69kV have been certified in the State.
Other state agencies that may be involved include the State Historical Society, Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Illinois EPA.
K, the Town of Middlefield,in Otsego county, New York, adopted a ban on hydrofracking for natural gas. A local farmer has filed a lawsuit claiming the ban is illegal.It is expected that this suit will be decided in the highest state court.
Even though this suit involves hydrofracking it is being closely watched as it is considered to be a possible benchmark for future cases involving Home Rule.
Cape Vincent is a classic example of a community struggling to govern itself due to the predatorial actions of two huge corporations and the unethical actions of numerous conflicted officials who refused to recuse themselves from the process.
With little help from the State we are on the verge of purging ourselves from these conflicts and for the first time in six years having a government willing and able to represent the entire community responsibly.
If this new government decides to enforce our existing zoning law and Comprehensive Plan, one of the more logical options would be to prohibit industrial wind turbines in Cape Vincent.
In my view it would be a travesty for the State to intervene and interrupt the legally established principle of Home Rule.
This case in Middlefield warrants close attention.
Dave LaMora
Well, K. It seems you have a real scumbag following you. Karl Rove. Thius is his view on fracking, and may answer one question. Karl Rove; “Climate is gone. I don’t think you need to worry the new Congress will consider proposed legislation to put the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing under federal rather than state regulation."
The GOP is gping to do whatever it tkes to keep us dependent on oil, and push their DOE ponzi scheme with Wind. Since GWB started it, and Obama is their lackey, whatever Karl Rove says is most likely the law of the land. Why isn't it so obvious to people that Obama is just a house boy for the GOP?
Oh yeah, you can't have it both ways. Wonder how they'll pull that one off.
New York is also a home rule state according to the list.
Post a Comment