Could Wind Energy Develop Along Lake Michigan?

Gov. Pat Quinn signed that hand both Illinois and Cook County more control over renewable energy projects, especially wind turbine research.

The Renewable Energy Production District Act will give counties the ability to use unincorporated land for renewable energy projects through a referendum vote. The other act leads to the creation of a new committee, the Lake Michigan Wind Energy Advisory Council.

The result of the latter bill has the potential to lead large-scale wind farms along Lake Michigan.

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State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) and Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) co-sponsored the bill creating the advisory council.

"It's important for us to develop this ability in Illinois rather than us buy it from out of state," Gabel said. "It will help our economic development and it will help us increase our clean technology."

Gabel said her motivation for sponsoring the bill came after consulting with Citizens' For a Greener Evanston, a group which sought off-shore wind energy within Lake Michigan.

"I learned how effective it is, how better the wind is off-shore than on-shore," Gabel said.

Together, Gabel and the organization envisioned a council that would work with Illinois Department of Natural Resources on issues related to off-shore wind energy.

Gabel said the council will determine appropriate criteria for development, identify favorable areas along Lake Michigan, and ensure that the public remains engaged in the process of leasing. The council is expected to present its report in June 2012.

Who will serve on the council has yet to be determined by the Department of Natural Resources, however Gabel says appointments will occur very soon.

Meanwhile John Adler, the Community Development Director of Wilmette, predicts such policies will be welcomed to the village.

"The idea of renewable energy, I'm pretty confident, would be supported by the Village Board and the residents of Wilmette," Adler told Patch.

An industrial-scale wind farm in Wilmette is unlikely, Adler said, because of the lack of unincorporated land. For this reason, Wilmette, as opposed to cities like Schaumburg or Naperville, may not be strongly impacted by the possibility of future development projects.

However, the Village of Wilmette is in the process of rewriting its zoning code, which may include criteria for residential windmills, Adler said. Because technology is changing, new standards for efficient turbine height are needed.

The Village of Kenilworth does not have a position on either one of the bills, Village manager Brad Burke said. Like Wilmette, however, it is reconsidering its criteria for residential windmills due to their smaller size, lower cost and increase in popularity.

In January, Kenilworth's Board of Trustees imposed a , until guidelines are revised to reflect the changes in design.

"Village staff have been researching the issue for the last several months and we hope to have a report to the Building, Planning & Zoning Committee in the near future," Burke said.

Regardless of its direct impact on Wilmette and Kenilworth residents, the legislation still grants all Cook County residents more control over their energy sources.

"Essentially, its a great option for communities to develop their own renewable energy projects," Gabel said.

Stay tuned to Patch for more coverage of renewable energy projects. Join the discussion on wind turbines on the Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch Facebook Page.