By Sam Thomas
BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously Tuesday night to recommend approving changes to the county’s wind farm policy, reviving a proposal that was shot down by the County Board in July due to a lack of transparency.
The proposal filed by the McLean County Farm Bureau outlines wind turbine heights, decommission plans and noise levels.
Tuesday night’s meeting was a continuation of last month’s ZBA meeting that was postponed to allow for rebuttal and closing comments by those voicing support for or against the proposed amendment.
Representatives from Invenergy LLC, a Chicago-based energy company with intentions of developing wind energy in McLean County, were on hand to offer rebuttal to public comment from last month’s hearing.
Michael Blazer, Senior Vice President and General Counsel with Invenergy, told the board that the proposed text amendment was drafted with the interests of McLean County residents in mind.
“The Illinois Farm Bureau and your zoning department do not seek to profit from the passing of this ordinance,” he said. “Or the approval of any potential wind development.”
He added that the proposed amendment isn’t based in pseudoscience.
“Collectively, they have developed an ordinance which is consistent with science, consistent with your past practices and consistent with the real evidence, rather than rumors, innuendo or internet studies.”
He finished his closing remarks by arguing that countless wind turbines have been built with few negative impacts.
“Tens of thousands of wind turbines have been built, and thousands continue to be built without any adverse impact on health, on communities or on property values.”
The ZBA ultimately sent the text amendment back to the County Board where it will await approval at its Nov. 15 meeting.
Sam Thomas can be reached at news@wjbc.com.
