Senate committee to vote today on bill to let schools to build wind farm

Things are finally looking up for three suburban school districts aiming to build a wind farm downstate and save millions on their energy costs.

A bill that would allow the districts to do just that passed the Illinois House in late March and is set for a Senate committee vote today.

Last year, Carpentersville-based Community Unit District 300, Keeneyville Elementary District 20 in Hanover Park and Prospect Heights District 23 formed a consortium to build a 20-megawatt wind farm in Stark County.

The districts are hoping to use the energy they would generate from a wind farm to offset the energy they use back in the suburbs - potentially saving the districts millions of dollars over the life of the farm.

But legal counsel advised the districts, which have already run into their share of obstacles, that state law is unclear on whether school districts can operate wind farms and use the energy generated to reduce their utility bills.

The districts decided to pursue legislation that would explicitly allow school districts to own and operate wind farms and issue bonds to pay for them.

"Our fear is that without the legislation, if we were to get knee-deep into the project, that someone could say, 'Wait a minute, you can't do this,'" said Dave Ulm, supervisor of facilities and energy management for District 300. "The legislation is a must."

The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Fred Crespo, a Streamwood Democrat, passed on March 26 by a 96-1 vote. Rep. Kay Hatcher, a Yorkville Republican, was the sole dissenting vote.

On Thursday, representatives from all three school districts, including District 300 Superintendent Ken Arndt, will testify in front of the state Senate's Energy Committee before the committee votes on whether to send the bill, sponsored by Park Ridge Democrat Dan Kotowski, to the full Senate.

Among the senators serving on that committee are GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Brady, former Republican candidate for governor Kirk Dillard and Mike Noland of Elgin, also a sponsor on the bill.

Given the warm reception their legislation received in the House, district officials are cautiously optimistic about the bill's chances in the Senate.

"We've reached out to both parties," said Gary Ofisher, director of operations for District 20. "Ours is not a political issue. We've come up with a way to save school districts money."