McLean County Board to consider approval of massive wind farm

Posted on June 25, 2021

Wind turbine — The company’s proposal won the unanimous backing of the McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals earlier this week. The McLean County Board will have the final say at its July 15 meeting. (WJBC file photo)

BLOOMINGTON – Dozens of wind energy turbines will be sprouting up on more McLean County farmland if elected leaders approve the project.

A Chicago-based energy firm is applying for a special use permit to build up to 64 turbines over 14,000 acres in Bellflower and West Townships, southeast of Bloomington-Normal.

The wind farm would provide electricity to about 80,000 homes annually, according to the application.

The company said the project would create 200 construction jobs and eight permanent positions. It would also provide “significant” property tax revenue to McLean County taxing districts, including the Blue Ridge and LeRoy school districts, the company said.

The applicant pledges to comply with Illinois Pollution Control Board noise standards, and to limit so-called shadow flicker on nearby homes to a maximum of 30 hours a year. Shadow flicker refers to changes in light intensity when the sun shines on the rotating blades of the turbine.

The applicant is Sapphire Sky Wind Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Invenergy Wind Development North America LLC.

The company’s proposal won the unanimous backing of the McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals earlier this week. The McLean County Board will have the final say at its July 15 meeting.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…