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Sunday, August 19, 2012
US over 15% on its way to the 2030 goal of producing 20% of its energy from wind
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Committees to consider wind farm regulations later in August
Written by Bob Balgemann
Two Boone County advisory committees will be holding public meetings on proposed new wind farm regulations later this month.
First stop will be the planning commission at 6 p.m. Aug. 21 in the county building, 1212 Logan Ave.
Next up will be the zoning board of appeals at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at the same location…..
The final stop will be the county board, either in September or October.
At some point after that Mainstream Renewable Power is expected to apply for a special use permit, to allow development of an 8,000-acre wind farm on the northeast side of the county.
Upwards of 100 wind turbines are being proposed for that property, which is bordered by Grade School Road on the west, the Wisconsin state line to the north, North Boone School road on the south and the McHenry County line to the east. All of the land is in Manchester and Leroy townships.
Click on the following for more details:http://www.belvideredailyrepublican.net/news/committees-to-consider-wind-farm-regulations-later-in-august/
Wind farm development in Illinois, elsewhere likely to slow in 2013
By Brian Leaf
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ROCKFORD — Wind power is the most visible form of electricity generation and only one state, California, made it more visible in 2011 than Illinois.
The Department of Energy said in a report last week that Illinois installed turbines capable of generating 692 megawatts wind power capacity, bringing the state’s capacity to 2,700 MW — enough to power about 680,000 homes. California led the nation with 921 MW of new capacity.
While the DOE expects 2012 to be another strong year for new wind energy, development of wind farms will dramatically slow in 2013. That’s because tax credits that provide wind energy producers 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour expire at the end of the year.
The tax credits have become part of an energy policy debate between Democratic President Barack Obama and his GOP challenger Mitt Romney, which makes the likelihood of an extension before the November election doubtful.
Click on the following to read all of the story: http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1782330807/Wind-farm-development-in-Illinois-elsewhere-likely-to-slow-in-2013