Libertyville firm unveils wind turbine

Despite earlier concerns from some area residents, a Libertyville company on Friday ceremoniously unveiled a 120-foot wind turbine it will use as an alternative energy source.

Representatives of Aldridge Electric, 844 E. Rockland Road, say the turbine will save the company money and generate cleaner energy.

"We're really looking at what kind of impact we're going to have on the environment," Lizzie Aldridge, a business development and research analyst for her family's company, told the crowd of more than 100 people at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Among the VIPs at the event were U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, state Sen. Susan Garrett and Lake County Board member Pam Newton, all environmentally conscious politicians.

The turbine should offset the production of 4,500 pounds of carbon monoxide annually, Aldridge said.

Newton called the turbine a sign of a national "paradigm shift" toward greener energy.

"Our nation needs to find a new way of doing things," she told the crowd.

Earlier this week, a few homeowners who live near the Aldridge compound publicly complained about the turbine, saying it's too noisy and has disrupted their sleep.

Other neighbors have supported the device's construction and operation, however.

The turbine blew at several speeds during Friday's ceremony. At its strongest, it sounded like an active washing machine. Audience members had no trouble hearing each other or the guest speakers.

Libertyville village officials have said they would conduct noise-level tests to ensure the device is running properly.

On Friday, Mayor Jeffrey Harger lauded Aldridge for installing the turbine, a move he said would put Libertyville "on the map."

"It's something we need to be doing," Harger said.