Campton Hills unveils wind turbine

What do cows think about when they look at wind turbines?

That became a question for animal behaviorists Thursday, when Elgin-based Monarch Renewable Energy unveiled a new wind turbine in Campton Hills.

As cows paced around a nearby pen, Village President Patsy Smith clipped the ribbon on a small, residential wind turbine whirring quietly on Casey Panichi's property - the site of Campton Hills' second turbine.

The turbine was the first installed by Monarch Renewable Energy, a sister company to Elgin developer Monarch Design and Construction.

Monarch hopes to market the small turbines to residential and business customers in the rural periphery of the Chicago suburbs.

"Residential wind power is an old idea. Now, it's an emergent technology," said Monarch co-owner Scott Crompton. "It's green, it's good and it works."

Monarch installed the turbine under a special use permit granted by Campton Hills. Monarch officials on Thursday highlighted the importance of cooperation between wind power proponents and local officials - a relationship that has been adversarial in other suburban communities.

"We're all for renewable energy," said Smith, Campton Hills' mayor. "The impact on the land is very minimal, as you can see."

Monarch officials plan to use the turbine to demonstrate the technology to potential customers.

"What we really needed was a demonstration site for customers," said Panichi, Monarch co-owner along with Crompton. "It's a product that's difficult to sell from a brochure."

The turbines, which can generate 25 to 30 percent of a home's energy needs, cost about $18,000 to $22,000 each. Crompton estimated it would take perhaps 12 years or more for customers to recoup their investment.