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Late Sunday, state Sen. Bill Cunningham advanced House Bill 4412
to provide counties with what he said were “guardrails” for
sighting wind farms. He said it will better align the state with
its renewable energy goals.
“We have other counties who have much more restrictive rules in
place and that has stymied development and that’s what we’re
trying to address in this bill,” Cunningham said. “By allowing
for local input, but putting guardrails on how restrictive those
sighting requirements can be.”
State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, worries about radar
disruption for tracking tornadoes and concerns the turbines can
kill wildlife like raptor birds.
“Why is that important, because they're the ones who keep all
the other species in check. They’re the ones that eat mice and
rats that prevent vermin from spreading disease,” Rose said.
“Oh, monarch butterflies, let’s screw that up too. Why is that
important? Because we need to eat.”
Rose said local jurisdictions are already doing what’s best for
their jurisdictions.
“We got plenty of this. And if you let it work you’ll get plenty
more but it will in places where locally elected officials have
said ‘yeah, that makes sense, that makes sense to put it
there,’” Rose said.
The measure was approved and now can be sent to the House for
consideration. The final day of lame-duck session is Tuesday.
Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and
other issues for The Center Square. Bishop has years of
award-winning broadcast experience and hosts the WMAY Morning
Newsfeed out of Springfield.
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