 If a company added turbines like these close to your home, without consulting you at all, what would your concerns be? |
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Adams County Wind Ordinance
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What You Can Do
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Quick Links: Landowners individually named in lawsuit re: DeKalb, IL County Board Wind Ordinance, 1-9-2010 A Wisconsin farmer talks about his regrets
A medical doctor's plea |
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We are not against
wind energy. Rather, this website includes important questions
about the best ways to develop our Adams County Wind resources,
and it reflects our obvious concern that the Adams County Wind Ordinance
fails to protect the interests of all of our residents. The public
deserves a far better deal than this ordinance provides. Thank you for considering this information; we promise to respect those who have differing opinions, and we hope for the best future for our beautiful and beloved Adams County. |
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The Proposed Adams County Wind Ordinance |
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Read for yourself the newly proposed Adams County Wind Ordinance: http://www.connecttristates.com/uploadedimages/khqa/News/AdamsCountyDraftWECSOrdinanceRevision.pdf Get a copy from the Adams County Clerk at the courthouse, or call to request an email copy. Her number is 217-277-2150. If you have questions or opinions about it, here is the contact information for your County Board Members: County Board members, addresses, & phone numbers Meanwhile, some of the key provisions in it include the following: 1. The county is divided into "participants" and "non-participants." Participants are landowners who have signed a binding contract with the wind developer to host a wind turbine on their property. Non-participants include everyone else, and they are not consulted in the process. 2. "Setbacks" are defined as the distance from the foundation of an occupied home (not the property line) to the center of a wind turbine tower. Buildings such as detached garages, sheds, and barns do not count in the proposed setbacks. 3. The proposed setback requirement for wind turbines from non-participants is 1320 feet. The proposed setback requirement for participants is only 1.10 times the height of the wind turbine (for example, the center of a 400 foot tower could be located only 440 feet from the foundation of a participant's home. This would place the spinning blades about 320 feet from a participant's roof.) 4. There are no regulations or setbacks governing the placement of electrical sub-stations (which can also be huge), roads, buildings, weather towers, or any of the other elements that make up a wind farm--the setbacks only apply to the wind turbines themselves. 5. Wind turbine towers must be setback 1.10 times their height from roads, power lines, and non-participant neighboring property lines (as long as they are also 1320 feet from your foundation). So if you own a large piece of land, the wind turbines can be crowded close to your property line everywhere except near your existing house. If you want to build another house elsewhere on your property anytime in the next few decades, it is a good idea to get it done in the next few months before a permit is issued to put turbines close to where you might be hoping to build a house or sell ground for a subdivision. 6. Wind Developers are now required to submit a shadow flicker study, showing how much shadow flicker they will be subjecting non-participants to endure. The Board decided to limit such an annoyance to only 20 hours per year per home. 7. Wind turbines are allowed to raise the noise levels at the homes of non-participants up to the limit of the Illinois Pollution Control Board standards. However, those standards only speak to audible noise; most of the complaints related to wind turbines have to do with the low frequency vibrations felt in the body, and that penetrate the walls of homes. A recent article in a national magazine for professional audiologists (hearing doctors) discusses the hearing and health effects of such constant exposure to low frequency noise, and there are many other articles and studies about this issue. 8. The wind company who applies is required to set up a system of arbitration for complaints, including a mediator for those complaints that are not resolved directly with the company. However, the mediator's decision is NOT binding on the company, meaning they have no power over the company to enforce even complaints they deem justified.
Press Release:
FROM: Advocates for Responsible Energy Development (ARED) DATE: July 29, 2010
CONTACT PERSON: John Gebhardt
The Advocates for Responsible Energy Development (ARED) a newly formed group representing over 200 Adams County Residents, met to review the new "draft" of Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) Regulations ". After extensive review of the new regulation by the group they are recommending the following seven changes to the WECS Regulations.
1. Setback 1500 feet from property line of non-participant
2. Zoning Authority 1 1/2 mile authority for City, community, or development
3. Noise Levels shall not be increased on non-participant’s property, to include low frequency noise."
4. Shadow Flicker No shadow flicker on a non-participating landowners property unless waived by the non-participating landowner.
5. Setback 1 1/2 miles from property line of: river bluffs, Public Conservation Lands, scenic areas, historical landmarks (Golden Windmill), state parks (Siloam Springs State Park), county parks, and Businesses whose revenue relies on a scenic view: (Bed & Breaksfast; Wineries; Campgrounds; & Hunting Lodges).
6. Property Value Guarantee provisions provided by Mike McCann.
7. Complaint Resolution the following: A. "The County Board ..." not "The Applicant..." develop the process to resolve any complaints during construction and operation. B. binding mediation" not "... non-binding mediation ..."
JUSTIFICATIONS for each recommendation:
1. If a school system is allowed a 1,500 feet setback (to allow for future development), why not have the same setback for a non-participant's property to allow them the same opportunity to locate a future residence near their property line? Shouldn't the children be as safe at home as in school?
2. Any community within Adams County (including our smaller communities - including rural developments) should have the opportunity to be able to grow within the one and one-half (1 1/2 ) mile area surrounding them. Why should they be limited from potential growth because Adams County allows an Industrial Wind Generator Complex to locate within that one and one-half (1 1/2 ) mile?
3. The Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) noise regulations does not have a category for Wind Generators, yet they are populating the Illinois landscape in dramatic numbers and noise complaints are one of the litigation issues in DeKalb County and elsewhere. The regulations include Motor Vehicles, Snowmobiles and Antique Autos, but not Wind Generators - based on a review of their web site: http://www.ipcb.state.il.us/SLR/IPCBandIEPAEnvironmentalRegulations-Title35.asp. One of the sound issues that is affecting the health of those who are affected, is the low frequency noise. There is no reference to low frequency noise in this regulation or any reference to Wind Generator noises. If snowmobiles in rural areas is a concern and deserved mention, why not Wind Generators? Until the state adds this to the regulations, Adams County needs to protect all its residents from the potential harm and annoyance of noises coming from Wind Generators located in rural settings and near communities who have allowed these structures to locate within their one and one half (1 1/2) mile area of control.
4. Why should the non-participant give up the enjoyment of their surroundings at any time? The new ordinance allows the Wind Company to impose a shadow flicker on the non-participant for "20 hours per year". Why should any resident of Adams County have to live with shadow flicker on their property just because their neighbor decided to lease the land next to them to the Wind Company? Should any resident be allowed to impose on the rights of their neighbor "using the force of law"? What happened to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, guaranteed under the Declaration of Independence? Aren't the rights of all landowners equal?
5. The Adams County Board should be protecting the scenic areas, businesses whose revenue relies on a scenic view, historical landmarks, state and county parks from the effects of having Industrial Wind Generators closer than 1 and 1/2 miles - some in the group would like it even further. When a person visits Siloam Springs Park, a historical landmark like the Golden Windmill, or any other park or recreational area in Adams County, they should not have to view or hear Industrial Wind Generators. The reason they are "recreational" is for the residents to get away from it all and enjoy nature. As to businesses whose revenue relies on a scenic view, think of Whispering Oaks Campground, a hunting lodge, a bed and breakfast in the country, a winery, etc. All of these businesses rely on visitors coming to their business to enjoy the scenic beauty of Adams County.
6. Per recommendation submitted by Mike McCann’s written testimony, "A Property Value Guarantee (PVG) should be required of the developer(s), significantly similar to the PVG attached hereto as Appendix A. A County controlled fund or developer bond should be required to guarantee no undue delay in PVG payment(s) to legitimately affected homeowners, and/or to buy out homeowners located within 2-miles of any turbines if they elect to relocate away from the turbine project(s) and cannot sell for the pre-project market value of their properties. Such a guarantee is nominal in cost, relative to total project costs, and are used to condition high impact land use approvals such as landfills and even limestone quarries, as well as other wind energy developments (i.e. DeKalb County, Illinois, etc.)."
7. If you have a complaint, naturally you'd submit it to the Wind Company, but if they don't resolve it should they be the ones to set up the process to mitigate the problem? Why would anyone want to go through the process, if the Wind Company doesn't have to abide by the mediation? The whole purpose of mediation is to come to some sort of resolution short of going to a lengthy court process.
Back Ground Information: The Advocates for Responsible Energy Development (ARED) group recently formed to represent the concerns of many Adams County residents, absent landowners, farmers, residents in Quincy, the smaller communities and developments in Adams County. Over 200 people (and the number keeps growing) have expressed concerns to the newly formed group. The group feels the 7 recommended changes make "common sense" considering the fact that one or more Industrial Wind Generating complexes will make major changes to the quality of life of all residents of Adams County and affect future tourism. These towering Industrial Wind Generators, allowed to go up as high as 550 feet tall (taller Empire State Building and only 80 feet shorter than the St. Louis arch) will dominate the landscape for the next 20-40 years. The ARED group believes locating wind generators too close will affect the health of people who live near them as well as affect the economic growth of businesses, rural communities and developments in Adams County. Sites such as Siloam Springs State Park, the Golden Windmill, wineries, bed and breakfast businesses, and other historic and scenic views in Adams County will be negatively affected if Wind Generators are located too close.
The ARED group feels very strongly that the "other side of the story" has not been told. The general public needs to understand what affect adding Industrial Wind Generating Complexes will have, to the future growth and enjoyment of rural Adams County. While some tout the economic benefits of Industrial Wind Generating complexes, the public should consider whether the economic benefits outweigh the changes the complexes will have on Adams County residents and their quality of life, if wind generators are not located "responsibly".
The ARED Group encourages citizens to become informed "before" the Adams County Board approves this Ordinance and issues permits. There are numerous web sites that have: photos, videos, research papers, newspaper articles, individual blogs documenting living within a Industrial Wind Generating Complex, and opinions both pro and con on the development of Wind Generating Complexes throughout the state, the nation and the world. Two web sites to start with are: www.windaction.org and www.wind-watch.org. The ARED Group encourages citizens and especially "all members" of the Adams County Board to visit Wind Generating Complexes to talk with both participants and non-participants nearby. Also visit the communities located near these complexes. Some of the existing sites in Illinois are: East of Bloomington, IL, DeKalb County, Stephenson County. The ARED Group hopes Adams County residents will take the time to learn both the pros and cons of this major development that will change the landscape for them, their children, and their grandchildren. The Adams County Board needs to know your thoughts, as it will impact all Adams County residents both in rural Adams County and in Quincy as "yes" it will be in your back yard.
If you want to read the "draft" version of the Adams County Wind Energy Systems Regulations go to the www.adamscountywind.com web site and click on the words Adams County Wind Ordinance. If you want to join the Advocates for Responsible Energy Development click "Join Group: on the Advocates for Responsible Energy Development link on: www.adamscountywind.com web site.
If you are interested in finding out more information about the Wind Energy Conversion Systems Regulations and how it will affect Adams County and its residents, the ARED Group is hoping to sponsor an informational program before the August 10th County Board meeting.
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