Condition of bridges in Boone County raises concern

Read the entire story(by clicking at bottom) to find out about the county bridge at Green Giant.

Of that number eight county bridges and 10 township bridges are between 40 and 55 years. With the average life of a bridge being 50 years, he noted, “The next decade could see a large number of bridges needing to be replaced.”

He told the committee the county “has a pretty good reserve – $3 ½ million.”

“Most of them will have to be done in the next 20 years,” Hunt

Read the entire story by clicking on the following: http://www.belvideredailyrepublican.net/news/condition-of-bridges-in-boone-county-raises-concern/

US over 15% on its way to the 2030 goal of producing 20% of its energy from wind

The following is taken from the government publication:http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wind/resources.html

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

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

BUSINESSROCKFORD.COM

 

• 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

Northwest Herald | Obama campaign offers Romney 5-year tax disclosure

 

Barack Obama's re-election campaign kept up pressure against Republican rival Mitt Romney on two fronts Friday, launching a new ad defending the president's record on Medicare while challenging Romney to release at least five years of tax returns.

Click on he following for more details: Northwest Herald | Obama campaign offers Romney 5-year tax disclosure

Local politics has a presence at annual Boone County Fair | Belvidere Daily Republican

Pysson was asked what it would take for a Democrat to win in District 1? “Part of it is strategy,” he replied. “Part of it is very hard work and telling people what you stand for.”

He said he would be campaigning door to door, though that will be difficult because District 1 is very rural.

The current county board is made up of 11 Republicans and one Democrat.

He said people were questioning whether Republican leadership should continue and were asking about the board’s promise to end the half-cent public safety sales tax in 2018. Pysson said he thought voters should decide that issue.

Click on the following for the complete article:  Local politics has a presence at annual Boone County Fair | Belvidere Daily Republican

Staff recommendations request a more limited change of current Boone County wind farm ordinance

The initial proposed changes were prepared by board members, Hunt, Glass and Newhouse. Such was quite unprecedented. 

Staff recommendations are on on Page 19.  All of the major changes were limited from those originally proposed by the board member who researched the item.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

The above was taken from: tp://www.boonecountyil.org/sites/default/files/Boone%20County%20RegionalPlanning%20Commission%20August%2021,%202012.pdf

The proposed ordinance is available at above citation and also on this blog at:http://www.boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2012/07/proposed-wind-farm-ordinance-for-boone.html