A controversial $1.5 billion, large-scale wind farm development has gained approval from the Peoria County Board on a split vote and with a long list of conditions.
The Four Creeks Wind Project proposed by Repsol Renewables calls for installation of 113 turbines across 27,000 acres in the county’s northwest corner, stretching from Brimfield and Princeville to the Knox and Stark county lines.
“Nobody on this board is taking this vote lightly,” said county board chairman Jimmy Dillon. “Nobody on this board is looking to harm anybody or take anything away from them.”
Repsol touted the project’s capacity to power more than 160,000 homes in Illinois each year with clean energy, while also estimating the development would generate more than $5 million in tax revenue for the Princeville and Brimfield school districts in its first year of operation.
But opponents of the wind farm argued the turbines, with a maximum height of almost 660 feet, would lower property values, negatively impact those who live in the vicinity with excess noise and shadow flicker, and diminish opportunities for future growth and construction in the project area.
Board members approved the special use application on a 12-5 vote Thursday, with Brian Elsasser, Daniel Kelch, Steven Rieker, Paul Rosenbohm and Matt Windish in opposition.
“This is going to be probably one of the biggest issues since I’ve been involved in this board that’s affected not only friends, people that I work with. This is divided,” said Windish. “I know everybody that came into this room tonight, though, is here for the better of Peoria County. That is something that I’m proud of, and proud of everybody that's here for that.”
The full board’s decision came at the end of a three-hour special meeting that immediately followed a three-hour special meeting of the land use committee, both held at the Holiday Inn and Suites at Grand Prairie to accommodate a large audience.
Over the course of both meetings, dozens of residents spoke out both against and in favor of the renewable energy project.
“I’ve observed the energy from the people who are opposing this over the last several years, that they came to their county board meetings many, many nights,” said Elsasser. “I know they are very committed to their effort. So tonight, I’m going to represent them with my vote as a no vote because I feel like they need to have their voices heard.”
However, board member Terry Ruhland said they needed to weigh the best interests of all the residents, not just the ones in attendance.
“I don’t know how many people are in this room; I won't even guess. But there is at least 179,000 people in Peoria County who are not in this room. Of that 179 [thousand], for every school kid who deserves the best education we can give them, and for every family that’s struggling to pay their utility bills, I’m going to vote yes,” said Ruhland.
“We’ve got to consider all of Peoria County when we make these big decisions.”
Repsol’s corporate headquarters are located in Madrid, Spain, with its North American operations managed through its offices in Houston. The company currently operates solar farms in Texas and New Mexico, and it expects to bring its first U.S. wind farm online later this year in Wyoming.
“I ardently support local companies carrying out local projects. If a local company is not available, then I’ve always looked to someone in the state of Illinois. If there’s no one in the state of Illinois available, then I’ve always looked to someone in the United States of America,” said Elsasser.
“I have to be honest, this makes me feel uncomfortable tonight that we’re considering a project of this magnitude with a company from another country.”
Under Peoria County code, commercial wind energy conversion systems are permitted in specified agricultural zoning districts as long as conditions set in the unified development ordinance are met.
Prior to the board’s vote, planning and zoning director Andrew Braun read through a list of the 36 conditions, or “restrictions,” the county put on the development, with most of them related to construction and operations.
Braun previously told WCBU that the project would still need to go through the process of obtaining construction permits, and it could still be up to five years before any turbines are installed.
The board’s approval, after the land use committee’s earlier 6-3 vote to recommend it, went against the Zoning Board of Appeals’ denial recommendation that followed 15 days of testimony.
“I do think the zoning board was leaning towards approving it with restrictions, and that’s where we’re at here today,” said Dillon. “I think these are strong restrictions, and they will provide a good project going forward.”
