Huntley may be site of suburbs' first wind farm

An Elgin company is hoping Huntley leaders will sign off on a plan to erect a 180-foot-tall test tower near Interstate 90 and Route 47 to see if there's enough of a breeze to support a wind farm there.

If built, it would be the first in the Chicago suburbs.

"Preliminary data shows a wind corridor there. We think (a wind farm) would be a unique enhancement," said Peter Nelson, Pancor Construction's director of construction. "It's a preliminary investigation into feasibility. The first step is just seeing if there will be general approval for this concept."

Huntley officials plan to schedule a public meeting to get input on the initial plan, which would allow for the test tower to be built and wind measured for a 12-month span.

Lisa Armour, senior assistant to the Huntley village manager, said trustees have made it one of their 2009 goals to explore alternative energy sources.

"The board would like, as would Pancor, to gauge public opinion on it," she said.

If there is enough wind, Pancor would have to present a more formal, concrete plan to Huntley leaders.

One option would be to build six wind turbines, with a height each of 420 feet including the blade, on the 340-acre site at the southwest corner of 47 and 90.

Nelson said the firm is undecided on whether it will sell power to the village, ComEd, or future businesses at the site or a combination of all three.

Each turbine would generate 2 to 3 megawatts of electricity. Generally speaking, a megawatt is enough power for 250 to 300 homes.