Wind Farm Presentation
Created By: Drew Russell
drurussell@gmail.com
(an outline of my full presentation has been pasted in the note section of this power point
slide and should be used while viewing this version of the presentation in order to get the
amount of maximum information)
Wind Farm Development
in Rural Illinois:
The Crescent Ridge
Model
Wind Energy Boom in the US

Wind power generating capacity increased by 27% in
2006 and is expected to increase an additional 26% in
2007.

The wind industry invested $4 billion in 2006.

These wind energy facilities will produce an estimated
31 billion kilowatt-hours annually.

Despite the boom, wind energy only amounts to less
than 1% of the total energy consumption in the U.S.
Why Is Wind Energy So Popular?

Wind is a clean/free energy source.

Wind energy can be produced free from foreign
participation.

Wind Farms are relatively cheap to build
because of government incentives.
Wind Energy
Development in
Illinois

Illinois currently generates only .5% of its
electricity from renewable sources.

Produces 107 MW’s from wind energy which
ranks Illinois 16th in wind energy production.
Sustainable Energy Plan

The ICC adopted Gov. Blagojevich's Sustainable Energy Plan in
July, 2005.

Under the Plan, electric utilities will begin acquiring 2% of their
electricity from alternative energy sources by the end of 2007.

A total of 75% of the renewable energy will come from wind
energy.

Under the plan, renewable energy sources like wind could
supply 8% of Illinois' electric supply by 2013
The Goals

Create jobs

Boost investment in rural communities

Protect the environment

Promote energy independence

Help stabilize energy prices
Current Operating Wind Farms in
Illinois

Mendota Hills- Owned by Navitas Energy, 63 turbines with a
50.4 MW capacity. Electricity Purchased by Com Ed.

Manlius- Owned by the Bureau Valley School District, 1 turbine
with a .66 MW capacity. Electricity purchased by owner.

Pike County- Owned by Illinois Rural Electric Coop, 1 turbine
with a 1.65 MW capacity. Electricity purchased by owner

Crescent Ridge- Owned by Eurus, 33 Turbines with a 54.5
MW capacity. Electricity purchased by Com Ed.
CRESCENT RIDGE
Site Map 9_15_04_display.pdf

Located by Tiskilwa, Illinois approx. 110 miles from Chicago.

The Crescent Ridge project is inside a belt of 2,200 acres of farmland with 13
participating land owners.

The Turbines only occupy 20 acres of that space.

Has an average wind speed of 16.7 mph.

Site has a 54.5 MW capacity

The pollution offsets are equivalent to taking 10,000 cars of the road each
year or planting 10,000,000 trees.

Developed and Financed by Eurus Energy
America Corporation.

$75 million development.

Com Ed. is the wind farm's sole customer.
Crescent Ridge Equipment
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Wind Turbines
Tower
Tensionless Pier Foundation
Pad Mount Transformer
Substations and Interconnection
Access Roads
Meteorological Tower
Control & Monitoring Building
A Public Viewing Area.
The Positives of Rural Wind Farm
Expansion: Crescent Ridge Example

Benefits the Rural Landowners

Increases the Local Tax Base

Benefits the Local Community
Benefits Rural Landowners

Rural landowners receive about $5,000 to $7,000
annually for each turbine as rent.

Farmers can grow crops or raise cattle next to
the towers.

Wind energy projects can save the family farm.
Increases Local Tax Base

Wind power projects bring new tax revenue to rural
communities.

The wind farm will be one of the top five property tax
payers in Bureau County.

Although unsettled presently, property tax payments
will provide anywhere from $6,500 to $26,000 for each
turbine for Bureau County each year.
Real Estate Property or
Personal Property?
Law in Illinois is unsettled as to how
the wind turbine is to be valued for
real estate tax purposes
What is Process Machinery?

Crescent ridge argues that 1 million of the 1.5 million dollar
value of a wind turbine is considered personal property.

The Bureau County Tax Assessor has considered 100% of the
Wind Turbine as taxable real estate.

Lee County projects are only being taxed 26-27 percent of the
value.

Proposed LaSalle projects might be assessed somewhere around
45 percent of value.
“Government, Help!”

With no state assessment standard for wind farms in
Illinois, proposed projects like Big Sky that cross
Bureau and Lee counties could face two different tax
assessments on the same turbines!

There is presently pending in the state legislature
several proposed bills that would establish a method for
the uniform taxation of wind farms though out the
state.
Benefits the Local Community

Wind power projects create new jobs in rural
communities.

The Crescent Ridge Wind Farm has created 100
construction jobs and five permanent jobs.

When new jobs and additional farming income are
created, the paychecks are spent in local stores and
restaurants, boosting the local economy.
Concerns/Problems of Rural Wind
Farm Expansion
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Aesthetic Concerns
Avian mortality
Road damage during construction
Noise Pollution
Inclement Weather
Availability of the Power grids
Intermittent Winds
Litigation from the locals
Unfounded concerns- electric fields causing health
problems, car accidents, epileptic seizures, ice throws
The Requirements for a
Wind Farm in Bureau
County

Must obtain a lease from willing land owners.

Must be able to connect to the regional power grid.

Facility equipment must conform to applicable industry
standards.

Must obtain a conditional use permit.
Conditional Use
Factors
Conditional Use Factors
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The establishment, maintenance or operation of the conditional
use will not be detrimental to or endanger the public health,
safety, moral, comfort or general welfare.
The conditional use will not be injurious to the use and
enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity for the
purpose already permitted nor substantially diminish property
values within the neighborhood.
The establishment of the conditional use will not impede the
normal and orderly development and improvement of the
surrounding property for uses permitted in the district.
Adequate utilities, access roads, drainage or necessary facilities
have been or will be provided.
Adequate measures have been or will be taken to minimize
traffic congestion in the public streets.
Conditional Use Permit
Bureau County Zoning Board
Application
Description of the Project

A legal description for the location of the tower and/or
substation

The location of property lines of adjoining property owners
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Turbine information

Extra requirements include that the installed turbines must be
new, certified, and have braking systems installed
Site Plan

Must detail the location of the project area
boundaries, the turbines, roads, transformers,
power lines, communication lines,
interconnection points with transmission lines,
and other ancillary facilities or structures.
The Site Plan must detail compliance with
the following:
Set Back Requirements

Residence=750 ft.
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Property Line=1.10 x the windmill’s height
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Public Roads=1.10 x the windmill’s height
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Other Structures=1.25 x the windmill’s height
Noise Standards
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Compliance with performance standards developed by
the Illinois Pollution Control Board.

The standards establishes daytime and nighttime noise
limits.

Applicant must develop a worst-case scenario, noise
contour map that shows the distance that noise may
travel from the turbines.
Telecommunication Considerations

If Wind Farm is within a relative location of
telecommunication facilities (i.e. antenna and
communication towers), a microwave beam
analysis must be undertaken around the area to
detect possible radio frequency or microwave
signal interference.
Waste Management

Solid Waste- All solid waste generated from the
site must be removed from the site immediately
and disposed of in a manner consistent with all
local, state, and federal regulations.

Hazardous wastes must be kept in compliance
with applicable local, state, and federal
regulations.
Aesthetic Considerations

Coatings and Coloring

Turbine consistency

Lighting
Road Agreement

A road agreement must be entered with the
relevant township Road Commissioner and
County Engineer.

Must address issues related to construction
traffic, safety, and post-construction road repair.
Decommissioning Plan Agreement
Ensures that the facility is properly decommissioned upon
end of project life or facility abandonment.
Sewer/Signage/Fire

All signs must be consistent with AWEA and ANSI standards.
Warnings of high voltage must be posted at least at the entrance
of the facility

The following standards must be followed to reduce the risk of
fire; 1) Adherence to applicable electrical codes; 2) Removal of
fuel sources, like vegetation, from immediate vicinity of electrical
gear and connections; 3) Utilization of twistable cables on
turbines

Sewer & Water- Any facility must comply with existing septic
and well regulations as required by county and state health
departments.
Other Governmental Requirements
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Federal Aviation Administration Determination.
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources Consultation.
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If applying for a state grant, an archeological survey must be
done to ensure that there are no Indian burial grounds under the
site.
The State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (“IEPA”)
has developed a General Permit to Discharge Storm water in
connection with “Construction Site Activities”
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What Does the Future Hold?

Illinois has an additional 11 sites proposed as of
Dec. 31st 2006

Two of those sites are currently under
construction

If all sites are developed an additional 1,541 MW
of electricity would be produced from wind
energy in Illinois.