 Sugar Creek One would be located in Sheridan, Corwin
and West Lincoln townships,
bounded by Illinois Route 10 to the north, County Road 1400N to the
south, the Mason County line to the west and Rocky Ford to the east.
Sugar Creek's planning team entered the local approval processes
when they brought the project before the Logan County Regional
Planning Commission at the beginning of this month. Eight
commissioners responsible for land use and development reviewed and
approved the project plan, which would place 116 wind turbine
generators to the west of Lincoln. The project boundary encompasses
about 17,700 acres, with the towers located on about 11,500 acres of
that.
The current plan is for the first phase of the wind farm. More
generators would be located to the south during the second phase,
which would go through the same and a separate approval process.
Planners said that about 50 percent of the land contracts have
been secured for the second phase, but it would be a while before
they would be ready. It took three years since first contact with
local authorities to bring phase one forward.
The final local decision-maker, the Logan County Board, will take
the recommendations of both the planning commission and the zoning
board into consideration before making its own decision. The board
meets for discussions tonight and could bring the matter to vote
when it adjourns next Tuesday.
If approved, and pending completion of all criteria, Logan County
zoning officer Will D'Andrea would then be able to issue building
permits.
Last night, the four acting members of the zoning appeals board
-- Doug Thompson, Dean Toohey, Rick Sheley and Judi Graff -- began
by reviewing the standard land use criteria, comparing how the wind
farm would or might affect that area. They later moved to discuss a
list of 29 project-specific points.
Thompson opened by saying he questioned if the proposed liability
insurance levels were adequate, which would be $1 million per person
and $5 million per incident on a $300 million project.
The full public hearing process by the appeals board spanned
nearly six hours in the course of three evenings. It began with a
layout of the project plan, moved into more specific presentations
of studies and was finally opened to all public comments.
During the information-laden sessions, Sugar Creek One planners
explained all aspects of the project, from construction to
continuing operation and final decommissioning.
Experts who had performed studies explained their processes and
findings on noise pollution, home values and effects on wildlife.
Local officials participated in discussions on public safety,
emergency response and transportation issues that might be created
during the construction phase.
Nearly two hours of public questions and comments were heard,
with the most discussed subject being a concern for the interference
that moving blades would create for the weather radar.
During the board's discussion Wednesday evening, Toohey reflected
on the proposed resolution that a communication system would be in
place for times of need. "If the NWS would say they need to shut
down, they would do it," he said.
Graff added that Dan Fulscher, the Emergency Management Agency
director, said he would be working with them.
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Sitting before the appeals board was a gigantic stack of
documentation that each had thoroughly reviewed. It covered all
aspects of potential impact: commercial communications, aviation and
wetlands concerns, wildlife, birds, archaeological matters, and
flicker effect on a nature preserve. Studies have been conducted and
would continue, including a watch on the forest frog, loggerhead
striker and influence on shrike nests during breeding season.
The board looked at surrounding property uses and if the project
would diminish property value within the neighborhood. A study was
performed saying it would not, and it was observed that there are no
known complaints from the nearby Rail Splitter Wind Farm.
The project was deemed compatible with nearby properties, which
are primarily farm ground.
Other commercial uses in the area -- grain elevators and quarry
mining at Rocky Ford -- would not be affected.
The decommissioning plan is primarily under the direction of the
county engineer, Bret Aukamp. Money would be placed in escrow before
building would begin, and the project would be reviewed every three
to five years by a professional engineer.
A drainage plan is in place that would replace or repair tiles
that might be broken in construction.
Structure and design plans allow for water flow in and out of
flood plain areas, as well as erosion control during construction
process.
A traffic plan has been created for the construction duration and
is in the road use agreement.
Measures would be taken to protect a historic home at 1492 600th
Ave.
An agreement must be created that would show where power lines
that would connect to the grid can be connected during phase one.
A new noise study would be created using information now available
on the new GE equipment that would be used in this project.
However, the logarithmically calculated noise stats based on louder
equipment already indicated that sound levels would be in an
acceptable range.
An airwave interference agreement would correct service levels
for TV, radio and Internet to the same level as prior to
construction.
At the conclusion of last night's meeting, Toohey said: "I'd like
to thank everyone for coming and providing your thoughts. It's
always good to have public opinion. Maybe it isn't the way you
wanted it to be, but that's the way the system works. I appreciate
you coming out."
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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