Opponents Consider Legal Action to Stop Wind Farm Construction; “there was no ice impact study analysis done”

By B.N. Frank

Opposition to wind turbines and farms is likely to increase in the U.S. and worldwide until significant biological, economic, environmental, and safety issues – including fires (see 1, 2), noise, and toxic emissions – are eliminated or greatly reduced (see also 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28). In September a lawsuit led to two turbines being demolished in Massachusetts and last month Page County, Iowa residents filed a lawsuit to stop a proposed wind project. Despite relevant safety concerns raised by Logan County, Illinois residents, a proposed wind farm was recently approved anyway.

From Wind-Watch:

New Logan County wind farm draws threat of lawsuit

Beason, Ill (WAND TV) – The Logan County board has approved a proposed wind farm in a 5-4 vote, but opponents of that wind farm are considering legal action to stop the construction of dozens of wind turbines.

Wind farms have been a spark to controversies burning in communities across the state.

Kristen Petersen, part of the Logan County Residents Against the Top Hat Wind Factory group, believes the group will have strong grounds for appeal for the way a previous hearing before the zoning board of appeals blocked residents from giving their input.

“I think the option moving forward will be to get an attorney and file suit,” she said. Given we were not allowed to cors examine experts at the zoning board of appeals and we were also given time limits and some people were told they couldn’t talk.”

Money is on the line for units of government cashing in on the wind farm – millions to school districts from tax revenue while Logan County would pocket hundreds of thousands of dollars from permit fees.

Petersen says the wind turbines are as tall as the St. Louis Arch and would pose a safety threat in winter months.

“Especially in colder climates, there was no ice impact study analysis done which another county in Illinois brought that up as a safety concern,” she said.

Just how far is the opposition willing to go in their fight?

“We will fight this until they actually put them up,” she said. “We will do everything in our power to make sure that we can keep the residents safe in this community and that we have a say.”

The wind farm is planned for an area of Logan County near Mount Pulaski and Latham.

Source: By Doug Wolfe. Published: Nov. 18, 2022. 25newsnow.com

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Of course, there are problems and opposition associated with offshore wind farms too. Nevertheless, earlier this year, the Biden Administration formed a federal-state offshore wind partnership with administrations in 11 states (see 1, 2) and made plans for floating offshore wind turbines. Earlier this month, however, it was announced that at least some of these projects will be delayed due to costs and other impediments.