LINCOLN — A check for nearly $245,000 for wind-farm zoning fees and permits just went into the Logan County general fund.
It is the first of many, officials say.
Chuck Ruben, chairman of the Logan County Board’s finance committee, outlined the income this week from Horizon Wind Energy’s Railsplitter Wind Farm. The farm covers portions of northern Logan and southern Tazewell counties.
Ruben said the recent payment was for zoning and permit costs for construction and placement of wind towers.
Logan County highway engineer Bret Aukamp said he is also expecting funds from Horizon.
“We are owed about that much for road oil,” said Aukamp. “We’ve been waiting for that money.”
Ruben said the check was an example of future benefits the county may receive from allowing wind farms in the area.
“That’s only 29 towers,” said Ruben.
Board member Bill Martin praised Lincoln/Logan Economic Development Partnership director Joel Smiley for putting the county on the wind farm map.
“When Joel began to hit a lot of these wind tower functions, he began inviting people in (to the county),” said Martin. “On every site visit, they find us appreciative — not being treated like pariahs.”
Martin said some wind representatives travel incognito to communities, because they fear the possibility of immediately being met by opposition groups.
Logan County also has a multitude of factors that make the area attractive to wind farm developers, he said.
“They have to be fairly close to transmission lines,” said Martin. “We have several across the county.”
Smiley announced the possibility of future projects at a county economic development committee meeting Wednesday.
Representatives of one project — possibly to be located in the Mount Pulaski area are “actively looking and meeting with residents,” he said. Smiley said he expects that company to install meteorological towers within the next 90 days.
Another project involves the possible overflow of a wind operation in DeWitt County.
Smiley said the numbers range from a “dozen or so” wind towers to be placed in Logan County, depending on the size of the project in DeWitt County.
Read the original article from The State Journal-Register.
