Please phone your Peoria County Board representative ASAP! Ask they vote NO on wind ordinance changes. Issues brought forward regarding compliance with state regulations need further work.

By Joyce Blumenshine

Your HOI Group sent in written comments and members spoke at both the February Zoning Board and County Land Use Committee meetings regarding concerns with proposed changes to the county wind energy ordinance. Our concerns include several changes that appear to make the Peoria County requirements more restrictive than the existing state regulations. That would make our county regulations out of compliance with the state, which could result in the county facing expensive and extensive lawsuits. Added concerns are the proposed changes will establish barriers to any wind energy company wishing to apply in our county by causing significant added costs and delays with the new ordinance requirements.

The full county board is expected to vote on the changes at their Thursday, March 13th, 6 p.m. meeting on the fourth floor of the County Building, 324 Main St., downtown Peoria. You can find your county board member by typing in your address at the Peoria County Election Commission website and county board members’ contact information is on the Peoria County website.