By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Rural landowners in eastern McLean County will have around 250 new opportunities to lease land parcels for wind tower use, if expansion plans calling for doubling the number of megawatts produced by the wind farm go forward.

According to Caton Fenz, project manager for the Twin Groves Wind Farm, Texas-based Horizon Wind Energy (HWE) recently hosted a series of meetings with area rural landowners about increasing the number of wind towers from 240 to around 490 – though the number of turbines could vary.

“We are seeking to double the capacity of megawatts (from 396) with another 400 megawatts of capacity,” Fenz told Farm World. “We feel like the response has been very positive. We’re blessed with a pretty supportive group of landowners and we’re very thankful for that.”

Fenz said HWE is seeking negotiations with over 200 landowners who are currently not leasing land used for Twin Groves’ turbines. “There is a direct financial benefit for rural landowners,” said Fenz. “When the turbines are spinning and generating electricity in November while the (crop) fields are iced over, I feel pretty good about taking that acre-or-so out of production.”

Twin Groves’ existing 240 turbines in Arrowsmith, Saybrook and Ellsworth generate enough electricity to power around 120,000 homes. The additional turbines would be constructed near Merna, Cooksville, Colfax and Anchor. HWE plans to submit a request for a special-use permit for the wind farm’s expansion in the next two weeks, Fenz said. “We’re shooting for public hearings in the post-Labor Day time frame. Hopefully the (McLean County Zoning Board) will give us the approval.”

With the expansion of wind farms in Illinois – prompted in part by a renewed national pledge to provide more of the country’s electricity from renewable sources and tax credits available to wind providers – has come a more concerted effort from wind power foes to keep the structures away. Fenz said HWE officials are braced for any backlash the news of expansion may bring to the pubic hearings.
“There are always going to be folks who object to any kind of development in any community, and wind farms are no exception. The great part about living in a democracy is those individuals will have the opportunity to express their positions,” said Fenz.