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Eastern Illinois county OKs first wind farm

DANVILLE — The Vermilion County board has given its OK for a developer to begin building the first wind-energy farm in the eastern Illinois county.

The Commercial-News in Danville reports that board members voted 21-1 Tuesday night to give Chicago-based Invenergy a building permit for its California Ridge wind project.

The company says it plans 104 wind turbines in Vermilion County on the Indiana state line and 30 more in neighboring Champaign County. They would produce up to 214 megawatts of electricity. That’s enough power for 50,000 or more homes.

Some local residents opposed the permit. Kim Cambron of nearby Rankin complained to board members that she will feel like she lives inside a power plant if the project is built.

The company says construction could start later this year.