RANKIN — Through a newly signed agreement with the developer of a wind farm proposed for the northwest corner of Vermilion County, the village of Rankin will receive $42,000 in compensation annually — $3,500 per turbine — for the dozen wind turbines to be sited within 3 miles of the town’s corporate limits.
In turn, the village has agreed to allow two of those 12 turbines to be built within 1 1/2 miles of the village — including one up to six-tenths of a mile, or 3,168 feet, of the corporate limits — and waive its zoning and siting authority in that same 1 1/2-mile jurisdiction, instead deferring all siting decisions for the project to Vermilion County.
The village board voted unanimously to approve the so-called “compensation and waiver of siting authority agreement” with Musketeer Wind Energy LLC during its March 5 meeting at the Rankin Lions Club building. After the meeting, Village President Aaron Warren directed the Ford County Chronicle’s questions about the wind-farm project to an official for Invenergy, a wind-farm developer whose South Wacker Drive address in downtown Chicago matches the address of Musketeer Wind Energy, as listed in online state records.
Through an agreement with the developer of a wind farm proposed for the northwest corner of Vermilion County, the village of Rankin will receive $42,000 in compensation annually — $3,500 per turbine — for the dozen wind turbines to be sited within 3 miles of the town’s corporate limits.
In an email Monday, Greg Vasilion, manager of renewable development for Invenergy, told the Chronicle that the proposed wind farm is called the Musketeer Wind Energy Center and will be located in the northwest corner of Vermilion County, primarily in Butler and Grant townships.
“This will be a 300-megawatt project and could include approximately 75 turbines,” Vasilion said.
Invenergy plans to apply for a siting permit from Vermilion County this spring with the goal of starting construction toward the end of 2025, Vasilion said.
“The (specific) model (of wind turbine to be used) is not yet finalized, but we will have a decision made when we submit our permit application,” Vasilion said.
The siting of wind turbines is regulated by Vermilion County’s “wind energy structure” ordinance. Among other regulations, the ordinance requires all turbines to be no closer than 1,000 feet from any primary structure, road or adjacent property line, unless that requirement is waived by the landowner.
As part of Rankin’s agreement with Invenergy, the firm agreed to not build any wind energy turbines or make any improvements associated with the project within six-tenths of a mile of Rankin’s corporate limits, with no more than 12 turbines allowed within 3 miles of the town of 561 in Butler Township. The village agreed to allow the adjustment of proposed turbine locations — as shown on a map attached to the agreement — by up to 500 feet if needed.
The agreement requires Invenergy to work with the Illinois Department of Agriculture on an agricultural-impact mitigation agreement.
It also requires the village to not interfere in the project in any way or encourage anyone else to do so, or suffer the legal consequences of having to pay back any money gained from the agreement. The village will receive $3,500 per year for each of the 12 nearby turbines.
The nearby city of Hoopeston earlier signed a similar agreement, Warren said.
The proposed wind farm is expected to generate more than $100 million in property tax revenue in its first 30 years of operation, nearly half of which will go directly to the Hoopeston Area school district, Vasilion said. Also expected to receive an influx in tax revenue are Vermilion County, Butler Township and the Rankin Fire Protection District, Vasilion said.
“The project will also generate over $120 million in landowner payments (and) will support nearly 400 jobs during construction and 15 local, full-time positions during the project’s operation,” Vasilion said, adding that Invenergy is “proud to support the communities where we develop, work and operate,” having joined Vermilion Advantage and made donations to the Kickapoo Rail Trail and Hoopeston Area FFA Alumni scholarship auction within the last two years.
Concerns raised by public
A public informational meeting with Vasilion immediately preceded the March 5 village board meeting, After giving a presentation, Vasilion answered questions from the audience, which numbered around 25 community members, including residents of Rankin and landowners from the surrounding area. It was the second public informational meeting held in Rankin to discuss the project.
While Vermilion County’s setbacks restrict wind turbines from being built any closer than eight-tenths of a mile to the foundation of a home, one audience member voiced concerns about the potential for property values to fall in the project area.
“We consistently see that (a drop in property values) is not the case,” Vasilion reassured audience members.
Another audience member questioned the effect that shadows created from a wind turbine’s blades could have on a home’s solar panels and television satellites.
“We study the areas for shadow impacts,” Vasilion asserted. “We use a very conservative measure for that. There is not going to be a shadow impact.”
The near-constant sound of the moving blades was another concern raised by an attendee. Vasilion said that would not be an issue, though, adding that any noise generated by the wind farm must be in compliance with Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations.
Another audience member disagreed, though.
“I often sit on my porch and I can hear the ‘swish’ of the turbine along Route 9 by Clarence,” the unidentified woman said. “Unless you are living there, you don’t know.”
She also said she was concerned about shadow-flicker on the highway from Rankin to Paxton being a health or safety concern.
Another audience member brought up the issue of bird strikes, stating that she understood that painting turbine blades black has decreased bird deaths caused by flying into turbines by 70%. Vasilion said Invenergy has been studying this solution, but he thought the data was questionable. Vasilion also noted that the Vermilion County wind ordinance requires all turbine blades to be white.
The same person asked what kind of lubricant would be used on the blades and said she was concerned that petroleum-based lubricants could negatively affect the surrounding environment.
“I don’t know what kind of lubricant we are using,” Vasilion admitted. “That’s a question for the engineers.”
Another person in the audience asked whether the transmission lines for the wind farm would cross the railroad. He also asked about the location of the power substation. In response, Vasilion said the substation is planned for Hoopeston and the transmission lines will not cross the railroad.
The same man then questioned how Invenergy and utility company Ameren Illinois would deal with “blackouts.”
Other business
In other business at the Rankin Village Board’s March 5 monthly meeting:
— In a presentation to the board, Denise Falls, a legislative assistant for 101st District state Rep. Chris Miller, R-Robinson, offered her assistance to Rankin officials in finding available grants for any projects they might want to pursue to improve the community. “People have called and asked me for help,” Falls said. “The people in Rankin want to make some changes. There is grant money to help the community. Other villages have gotten grants for police cars, animal control, roofs on buildings. There are tons of grants to be had. If you see anything or have an idea, bring it to the board or reach out to me. For instance, I noticed your library is not registered. That’s money you are leaving on the table. We are here; all you have to do is reach out to me. I love doing constituent work. I answer my phone 24/7. If you have a midnight idea, I am OK with it.” Wells can be reached at Miller’s district office in Charleston at 217-508-4108 or by email at miller@illinoishousegop.org.
— The board heard a community member’s request for the village to fix a sinkhole in the ditch at 706 S. Guthrie St. Also, another community member complained of a large hole in the road on 7th Avenue. Both said they tried calling the Village Hall to have the problems fixed but had not received a timely response. Warren assured them he would look into the problems and gave them his cell phone number to call if they have further issues reaching Village Hall.
— The village was working on bids for a property sale, the board learned. Notices will be published in the Rankin and Danville newspapers as legally required.
— Warren said spring cleanup is not on the agenda.
— Warren asked that board members have their annual appropriations requests submitted by the May board meeting.
— In attendance were Trustees Alyssa Duncan, Joy Langellier, John Duncan, Vern Hofer, Larry Palermo and Larry Alderson, along with Village Clerk Minette Warren and the village president.
