Illinois wind turbines north of Peoria

By Joyce Blumenshine

Thanks to all Putnam County HOI members who responded to email and phone call alerts requesting support for wind energy for their County Board vote on August 27th. The Putnam County Board voted to approve a new resolution putting a moratorium on wind energy approvals until April 15th, 2022, or an earlier date if the Board so votes. The resolution directs the County Zoning Board of Appeals to review the existing 2016 county ordinance, hold public hearings, and make any revisions by the March 14, 2022 County Board meeting. The resolution can be viewed online. 

The existing County wind ordinance was completed in 2016 and changes have occurred since then, including higher wind turbines and distances for set-backs. Concerns were raised by some property owners, who hired an attorney and threatened to sue the county earlier in August. Comments from wind opponents included that the towers look awful and that they were upset over the closing of the Hennepin coal-fired power plant.

Please help however you can to support wind energy for Putnam County. Change is difficult for many, however, each of us has to face the reality of rapid climate change and the necessity of taking action for clean, renewable energy, such as wind and solar. Wind energy farms typically lower county property taxes and provide more funding for schools. In an earlier presentation on the economic impact of wind farms, Putnam County Supervisor of Assessments Tammy Mehalic said a new windfarm, if it existed in the county right now, could bring in about $1.5 million in additional tax revenue a year. Read more about opponents’ concerns at an earlier Board meeting.

Many farmers support wind energy. It provides them with reliable additional annual income. They also understand that wind energy will not add greenhouse gasses causing rapid climate change with more severe rains or droughts and other serious environmental disasters happening now. See a listing of myths about wind energy and facts to respond.

Few people consider the full range of impacts from coal-fired power plants. Air pollution from burning coal and from coal dust at mine sites and processing plants can cause asthma, cancer, or trigger heart attacks. The many toxic heavy metals from coal ash impoundments and disposal areas can leach into groundwater, causing a wide-range of harm to health for people and animals. Black lung disease and other health complications affect many coal miners. Coal mining takes thousands of acres of good farm land out of production because it is used for coal waste impoundments. The bottom line is coal is the largest source of human-caused global greenhouse gas emissions.