DeKalb County Planning & Zoning Committee recommends moratorium on Wind Farms –

DeKalb Co., IL. (ECWd) –

It’s not every day that we see a local body of government step up to the plate and do the right thing.  DeKalb County residents did see this happen in Sycamore IL at the February 22, 2017 DeKalb County Planning and Zoning Committee meeting, with around 100 people in attendance and applauding the committee’s action.

On January 26, 2017 a Public Hearing was held regarding two special use permit applications to install two Meteorological Towers (“MET towers”) in South Grove Township in rural DeKalb County.  MET towers are used to measure wind speed over time, typically a year or two, and are placed where wind farms are proposed to be located. At the public hearing, there was a large turnout of citizens to voice their concerns and gather information about the process. The Public Hearing was held in a room that was not large enough to accommodate the anticipated attendance.  People had to stand in an adjacent foyer unable to see or hear the speakers at the hearing.

It was brought to the DeKalb County Board’s attention at the February 15, 2017 County Board meeting regarding the alleged Open Meeting violations.  At the Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting Board President Mark Pietrowski Jr. made a motion to restart the hearing process and have the public hearing later, and in facility large enough to fit the public’s needs.  The Motion received full support from the committee. 

The Planning and Zoning Committee also made a motion to place a moratorium on Wind Farms and Solar Farms until there is an ordinance in placed and voted on by the County Board.  This Moratorium will move to the full County Board for approval at the March 15, 2017 meeting.

 Kudos to DeKalb County for taking the steps to make it RIGHT for your citizens!