wind turbines

[TabulaRasa]

In my former life as a journalist, I covered the construction of the first windfarm in the state (the one between Compton and Paw Paw), and also the later one in the vicinity that was developed several years later (Mendota/Sublette/Amboy area). Colleagues covered the Crescent Ridge one (near Tiskilwa) that was built in between the time those other two were built.

I also have quite a bit of experience in living near turbines...the ones on my parents' property are virtually silent. No noise to speak of whatsoever. A lot of the NIMBY-ism comes from the school of thought that they mar the landscape, cosmetically. I don't agree, I think they look pretty cool. But, then, growing up, on a clear day, I could see the nuke plant cooling towers/steam at Byron from a distance, and I'd way rather look out my window and see wind turbines, by comparison.

There is some ecological concern among those who oppose them, due to birdkill - which was more of a concern in decades-older wind turbines, such as those at Altamont Pass in California, back in the days when the supports weren't designed of tubular metal. There used to be a popular wind turbine design that was more like high-tension power line supports...lots of metal struts that attracted birds for perching. Those designs are no longer used. I do know that in two of the developments I covered, environmental assessments had to be done on migratory bird routes and also wetlands status of the land being scoped out for development. The danger to migratory birds is more of a concern on wind farms on coastlines and mountaintops than it is in the midwest. The migratory paths are high enough that they're out of the reach of the blades as low as our turbines are.

A recent Chicago Trib article discussed a study being done lately that shows a serious adverse effect on bats, actually. There are apparently a large number of bats found dead at the bases of wind turbines, with no visible injuries. A Canadian university doing the study has found that bats will fly/feed in the areas around the wind turbine blades, and the blade motion creates a very sudden drop in pressure that ruptures the bats' lungs, and they die of internal hemhorrage. Birds' lungs are not as delicate, and they're not impacted in the same way when they're near these low-pressure zones created by the blades. My dad's been saying for the past few years (since the local turbines went up) that the bat population in his barn had pretty much disappeared, and suddenly. He always liked the bats, because they kept the yard pretty mosquito-free for sitting out on hot summer nights. We wondered if pesticides weren't responsible, but it's entirely possible it's the wind farm.

[better design]

I was driving through central Illinois last week for the first time in several years and went past the windmill area and would like to know more about what is going on there? I currently live in Michigan where there is alot of talk about wind power and little evidence visually of forward movement. What I would like to know is, who owns these windmills? Are they owned by the farmers whose land they are sitting on or the utility companies or is the state of Illinois involved. Very interested in how they are making this work and how much energy is being generarted. Please e-mail as much as you can about what you know or how I can find information about this project. (katherinehall08@yahoo.com)

[linicx]

I think if you want to know more about Wind Farms and what they contribute, you might want to talk to the City of Palm Springs. Their 3-blade windmills stretch as far as the eye can see.

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by better design

I was driving through central Illinois last week for the first time in several years and went past the windmill area and would like to know more about what is going on there? I currently live in Michigan where there is alot of talk about wind power and little evidence visually of forward movement. What I would like to know is, who owns these windmills? Are they owned by the farmers whose land they are sitting on or the utility companies or is the state of Illinois involved. Very interested in how they are making this work and how much energy is being generarted. Please e-mail as much as you can about what you know or how I can find information about this project.

Where in Central Illinois? Bloomington/Normal? North of Peoria? There are all sorts of wind farms in current operation, in the building process, or planning process.

Investor groups/companies tend to own the wind farms. Sometimes it is actual electric companies. Farmers (land owners) get paid a fee for the use of the land, via a lease or royalty style agreement. The county generally also gets additional payments through special assessments on the windmills.

[grmngrl8203]

We visit Peoria and when we drive up from St. Louis we go on 155 and somewhere along there there is a couple miles of the windmills. They are everywhere in that spot.

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by TabulaRasa

In my former life as a journalist, I covered the construction of the first windfarm in the state (the one between Compton and Paw Paw), and also the later one in the vicinity that was developed several years later (Mendota/Sublette/Amboy area). Colleagues covered the Crescent Ridge one (near Tiskilwa) that was built in between the time those other two were built.

I also have quite a bit of experience in living near turbines...the ones on my parents' property are virtually silent. No noise to speak of whatsoever. A lot of the NIMBY-ism comes from the school of thought that they mar the landscape, cosmetically. I don't agree, I think they look pretty cool. But, then, growing up, on a clear day, I could see the nuke plant cooling towers/steam at Byron from a distance, and I'd way rather look out my window and see wind turbines, by comparison.

There is some ecological concern among those who oppose them, due to birdkill - which was more of a concern in decades-older wind turbines, such as those at Altamont Pass in California, back in the days when the supports weren't designed of tubular metal. There used to be a popular wind turbine design that was more like high-tension power line supports...lots of metal struts that attracted birds for perching. Those designs are no longer used. I do know that in two of the developments I covered, environmental assessments had to be done on migratory bird routes and also wetlands status of the land being scoped out for development. The danger to migratory birds is more of a concern on wind farms on coastlines and mountaintops than it is in the midwest. The migratory paths are high enough that they're out of the reach of the blades as low as our turbines are.

A recent Chicago Trib article discussed a study being done lately that shows a serious adverse effect on bats, actually. There are apparently a large number of bats found dead at the bases of wind turbines, with no visible injuries. A Canadian university doing the study has found that bats will fly/feed in the areas around the wind turbine blades, and the blade motion creates a very sudden drop in pressure that ruptures the bats' lungs, and they die of internal hemhorrage. Birds' lungs are not as delicate, and they're not impacted in the same way when they're near these low-pressure zones created by the blades. My dad's been saying for the past few years (since the local turbines went up) that the bat population in his barn had pretty much disappeared, and suddenly. He always liked the bats, because they kept the yard pretty mosquito-free for sitting out on hot summer nights. We wondered if pesticides weren't responsible, but it's entirely possible it's the wind farm.

Wish we would use them here in Florida instead of drilling oil off our shores. I was at my niece's farm last week, just east of the Illinois line in Newton County which is surrounded by the wind mills. They are fearful of the amount of bugs and pests that will not be eaten by the birds and bats that are dying at quite a pace in their area. This was the first time I heard about them messing up the eco system. I also was surprised that the electricity being generated is not being used in IN or Il. and that the companies that own the turbines are from Kentucky and Michigan so only the farmers renting the land are making money in the state. Their other concern is what happens when they start losing the pretty white paint and start rusting and the companies don't keep up with the upkeep on them.

[mdand3boys]

The local county and school districts are all greatly benefiting from the wind turbines via property taxes. The energy companies are generally charged rather hefty fees for initial permitting and pay annual "royalty" payments which benefits those communities as well. If all these extra feees and taxes were not being charged, the electricity would be a lot cheaper to produce. Just something to think about.