Wind farm discussion set

STAFF REPORT
Commercial-News

DANVILLE January 05, 2009 09:30 pm

— Residents interested in a proposed wind farm ordinance for the county will have the chance to speak out this week.
The ordinance, proposed in November and on public display since the beginning of December, will be up for discussion at the Vermilion County Board’s executive committee meeting on Wednesday.
County Board Chairman Jim McMahon said the meeting will be an opportunity for residents to tell the committee their problems with the ordinance.
The ordinance deals with the issues surrounding the placement of turbines in a wind farm, ranging from road care during the construction of the wind turbines and the buffer zone between the turbines and property to the permit process for a wind farm.
Unlike other counties that are the site of wind farms, Vermilion County does not have countywide zoning. The ordinance compensates for that by creating a building-permit format that oversees companies wanting to build in the county.
McMahon has had a couple of concerned citizens come forward asking about the wind farm ordinance. He said once it was explained it did not deal with the issue of zoning, the people left giving him the impression they did not have a problem with the ordinance.
The ordinance will remain on public display for review until the board votes it at the Jan. 20 meeting.
Vermilion County is one location being looked at for future wind farms. One company — Horizon Wind Energy — is in the process of scouting a project that would include the southwest corner of Vermilion County. Three other businesses have ap-proached Vermilion County about the potential for wind farms.

WHAT’S NEXT
The Vermilion County Board executive committee meets at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 319 of the courthouse annex, 6 N. Vermilion St.