rvpnews | Belvidere Daily Republican

Standing room only at board meeting on critical wind farm vote

Jan. 21, 2014

By Tricia Goecks

BELVIDERE – A standing room only crowd attended the Boone County board meeting on Jan. 15. The meeting attracted participants from as far as Chicago to express their opinions. The board members were deadlocked in a 6-6 tie vote on an amendment to extend the minimum setback distance requirement for wind turbines. As a result of the tie vote  the  minimum set back  distance requirements will remain at 1,000 feet. Brad Fiddler, Denny Ellingson, Bob Walberg, Karl Johnson, Paul Larson and Chris Berner voted to increase the minimum setback distance to 1,500 feet from buildings or property lines. Bill Pysson, Cathy Ward, Ron Wait, Marion Thornberry, Kenny Freeman and Craig Schultz voted to oppose the amendment

I wanted to offer a compromise,” said Walberg of his proposed amendment to extend the minimum setback requirement to 1,500 feet from property lines or buildings. “There is one farmer up there I know, they are struggling to make ends meet. So it has a value to them. But these other people who are appalled to have these turbines as a neighbor, you have to give them a little bit of space.”

Proponents of the amendment cited health, safety, sleep deprivation and flicker concerns of the wind farms. Opponents of the amendment cited financial, green energy and the role that special-use permits should play in protecting the health and welfare concerns of residents.

“I am glad that this is over with and neighbors can talk to neighbors. If an application comes in, the special-use features of the wind turbine ordinance will ensure that all citizens’ health will be well protected,” said Pysson.

The result of the vote will allow Ireland-based Mainstream Renewable Power to move forward in their efforts to expand into Boone County in Leroy and Manchester Townships. “One of my biggest regrets is that many people’s concerns were dismissed in favor of a foreign company,” said Walberg.

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