Revised wind farm regulations get airing before county board | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

County board members were limited to two minutes, as were a few residents who addressed the issue.

After hearing the discussion District 2 board member Paul Larson said it appeared they were “trying to ride multiple horses in different directions, and that’s difficult.”

….

Marion Thornberry …. Our job is to do what’s right for the county, not for individuals.”

Personally, he said he would like to vote on the issue that night. “Do we want wind farms or not,’’ he said.

He provided the board with an update on Senate Bill 1469, which passed the Senate Energy Committee, 16-0, and was placed on the state Senate calendar for second reading on March 19. That measure, he said, takes authority over wind farms away from local government and, if it becomes law, could cost Boone County $14 million in revenue.

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Below is SB 1469—I see nothing in the bill indicating that local government will no longer receive real estate taxes if this law is enacted.

Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Wind Energy Facilities Construction and Deconstruction Act. Requires an operator of a commercial wind energy facility on land owned by another to enter into an agricultural impact mitigation agreement with the Department of Agriculture. Provides that the operator is responsible for deconstruction of a wind energy facility. Requires the filing of a deconstruction plan detailing the cost of deconstruction per turbine. Provides that the plan must be prepared by an independent third party. Requires the Commerce Commission to require performance bonds for deconstruction. Authorizes rulemaking. Effective immediately.
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the introduced bill with changes. Removes language that provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission may evaluate and make advisory recommendations concerning deconstruction of a commercial wind operator's sited or permitted commercial wind energy facility. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Read the actual bill by going to:  http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=85&GA=98&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=1469&GAID=12&LegID=72199&SpecSess=&Session=