Zoning panel begins lengthy review of plans for McLean County’s third wind farm

Posted on January 3, 2018

 

Wind turbine
The McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals is conducting a lengthy hearing to determine if an alternative energy company can build a wind farm north and northwest of Bloomington-Normal.
(Photo courtesy Jim Fischer)

 

By Howard Packowitz and Lindsey Harrison of WMBD-TV

NORMAL – A McLean County zoning panel will meet again Thursday to consider plans for a sprawling new wind farm north and northwest of Bloomington-Normal.

Our news partner, WMBD-TV, reports Chicago-based Invenergy proposes to build more than one-hundred turbines on about 13,000 acres in five different McLean County townships.

The company said the project would create more than 500 construction jobs and provide power to more than 69,000 homes a year.

Nearly 150 people attended a public hearing at Heartland Community College Tuesday night. Some expressed concern about the placement of the turbines and the impact on property values.

Invenergy executive Kevin Parzyck said property values won’t go down. He said McLean County has some of the best wind in the state for this type of farm.

Parzyck said this is “a very valuable commodity for McLean County.”

The county’s zoning board of appeals will hear more expert testimony Thursday. Neighbors will also have a say in a hearing that’s expected to last for several sessions.

This would be McLean County’s third wind farm.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].

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