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 While the county voted recently to not allow
resale of recreational marijuana, there were many other businesses
affiliated to consider allowing.
Zoning amendments include adding definitions for Adult-Use Cannabis
Business Establishments. There are numerous other businesses
involved in growing and processing products, and these would be
added as a Permitted Use in Agricultural and Special Districts.
As for wind towers, there is a potential resolution to reduce their
impact to residents at night. Appendix E on Wind Energy Conversion
Systems was amended to require aircraft detection lighting system
technology. Projects shall utilize aircraft detection lighting
systems as approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, unless
the FAA does not recommend or approve this technology for a proposed
project. If approved by the FAA, the wind farm[s] will not have the
constantly flashing red lights.
January 11, 2020
Logan County ordinance amendments for cannabis businesses and wind
towers on the board again
Status of projects
When Sugar Creek construction was set to begin last spring, it was
initially delayed by a stalled culvert permit. Vice President of
Development for Highlander Renewables Stan Komperda said all they
are asking for is a temporary culvert to cross Route 10. He met
face-to-face with IDOT representatives several times and said they
kept pushing the date back.
The initial permit was submitted in May 2019. After it was rejected
September 6, 2019, developers sent revisions in the next week. As of
early February, Komperda said IDOT had not reviewed the permit and
he was told it would be mid-February (2020) before they reviewed it.
That would likely mean they would not hear anything until March.
In a letter to Representative Tim Butler, Komperda said, “These
delays have begun to adversely impact the project, limiting
deliveries to the site, increasing project costs and potentially
jeopardizing the in-service date for the wind farm.” The Logan
County Board’s Planning and Zoning Committee approved sending the
letter to Representative Butler to help resolve the matter.
February 11, 2020
Sugar Creek Wind Farm delayed by stalled culvert permit
By summer, construction had begun on the Sugar Creek Wind Farm
project. People driving on Route 10 west between Lincoln and New
Holland could look south and see the latest wind farm in Logan
County rising out of the prairie. A giant crane weighing 11,000
metric tons helped assemble the towers. The crane lifted each
section into place, topped the tower with the nacelle, and then
placed the 250-foot blades in position. The cranes used in the Sugar
Creek project are the third largest that the German crane company
Liebherr makes.
The Sugar Creek Wind Farm turbines are the latest generation and
reach higher than others previously built in the county. The crane
boom is over four hundred feet in height, while the wind tower is
just short of that. Watching the towers being pieced together was
quite a sight for those driving by.
July 25, 2020
Monster equipment needed for taller turbines west of Lincoln
Towers of the prairie under construction - Album
Sugar Creek Wind Farm is operational now and two other renewable
energy projects are in planning stages.
In July, Invenergy, a developer of sustainable energy, spoke with
the Logan County Board about plans to develop a wind project in the
county. The name of this project would be the Logan County Wind
Energy Center. The board heard from Greg Vanderkamp, who has been
the lead developer of the project for almost a year.
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The current proposed project has been in development
for four years with Invenergy employees working in Logan County
since 2016 doing studies and survey work. They have been working
with 70 landowners and have spoken to several others about interest
levels. The wind farm project is planned in the northeastern portion
of the county. Possible areas in the project footprint are Atlanta,
Lawndale and Chestnut. Portions may be close to the Dewitt County
line and south of Beason. Invenergy hopes to apply for a permit and
get approval from the board at the beginning of 2021. Vanderkamp
said they hope to begin construction in late 2021 and be in
operation by late 2022.
July 23, 2020
Invenergy presents wind project plans for east/northeastern Logan
County
In 2020, developers from Mulligan Solar were also in the early
planning phases of a large solar farm project near the Sugar Creek
Wind project. In March, Baker asked Logan County Enterprise Zone
administrators to consider incorporating Mulligan Solar. Doing that
would require a re-draw of the Logan County Enterprise Zone
boundaries.
There has not been an enterprise zone application since 2016.
Baker said there is a big benefit to the project being in the
enterprise zone to help it be cost competitive and it would not be a
significant loss of income to the county. The enterprise zone
designation could be for just two years because the project’s
highest sales tax burden is during construction. The labor would
occur during that time. After that project is complete, Baker said
the boundary of the enterprise zone could be moved back.
The application is expected to be considered by the board in 2021.
March 9, 2020
Solar company would like Logan County’s Enterprise Zone for
construction phase
In April, The Mulligan Solar Farm Project was in the final stages of
site control and working on a permit application. Baker asked about
lowering solar farm permit fees because permit fees are
significantly higher than those for a wind project. For a
70-Megawatt project, Baker said these fees would be almost $1
million more than wind farm permit fees.
The board approved lowering the fees and set them up at a rate of
$1,000 for 0-1 MW (Megawatts), $3,000 per MW for 1-70 MW, $2,000 per
MW for 70 - 100 MW, $1,000 per MW for 100 plus MW.
April 25, 2020
Logan County lowers permit fees for solar farms
At the Logan County Board’s Regular meeting Tuesday, June 16, the
board approved requests made by Mulligan Solar for Conditional Use
Permits. The parcels, which are set across 874 acres, are adjacent
to Broadwell. The solar energy system would generate up to 70
megawatts and interconnect to the existing Ameren Fogarty
substation, located northeast of the town of Broadwell.
In summer and fall 2020, Apex and Mulligan Solar worked on
interconnection studies. Mulligan Solar Project Manager of Apex,
Erin Baker, has said the interconnection agreement with Ameren would
be executed early next year. Once that is done, they would start
applying for building permits with hopes to start construction in
spring or fall 2021. Baker said they hope to be operational by the
end of 2021.
June 10, 2020 Largest solar farm planned for central Logan County
gets first nod
June 19, 2020
Largest Logan County solar farm decided
As the county heads into 2021, these projects are hoping to begin
moving forward with plans and possible construction.
[Angela Reiners] |
