By many accounts, the prairies of Ilinois are ripe for wind energy. They boast Class 3 winds, with pockets of Class 4 winds. Illinois is also home to hundreds of miles of high-voltage transmission lines to deliver power to users, primarily in the Chicago area, and wind farms can tie into that existing infrastructure. Even the law is favorable, accordingto the Illinois Wind Energy Association. In 2007, Illinois and 20 other states enacted laws requiring 25% of electricity come from renewable sources by 2025.

And 75% of that is to come from wind. A bonus for consumers: The law prohibits rate increases of more than 0.5% over the previous year. Landowners across the state have cashed in, too. Ryan Aupperle, farm manager with Heartland Ag Group in Decatur, reports that landowners can boost revenue by 20% to 40% with a single turbine. However, the long-term nature of the contracts — 30 to 50 years, in most cases — is a concern to many. Despite all the good news across the state, however, folks are beginning to question the wind energy equation. Among them is Larry Gerdes, a landowner-turned-activist in Bureau and
Lee counties. Gerdes sees wind farms as being so subsidized that they essentially act as a tax shelter. He fears the subsidies will eventually dry up, and
farmer landowners will be stuck with dead-in-the-water turbines. Controversy has also followed wind projects in Livingston, Adams, Lee and DeKalb counties, and more. DeKalb County is home to Dave and Stephanie Hulthen, who have started a blog to document the way turbines have changed their family’s rural life.

Why do some communities seem to erect turbines with little to no trouble, and others are fraught with controversy? For more on both sides, and what to look for if a developer comes calling, turn to Page 8.