Board devising rules for wind, solar power

With the environmental movement gaining momentum across the country ­­- and certainly in green-minded Lake County -- Lincolnshire officials are developing rules that would allow wind turbines and solar energy devices in town.

"We want to take a look at what the codes are and what we would allow," Mayor Brett Blomberg said during a recent telephone interview. "Let's get ahead of the curve if we can."

No such alternative-energy generators operate in Lincolnshire now. To install one, a property owner would have to request a special permit.

As officials develop an ordinance that would legalize such generators, the village board on Monday unanimously approved a four-month moratorium on the installation of wind or solar generators or the approval of such permits.

As a concept, alternative energy has a lot of support on the board. So do rules governing such generators.

"To me, it's not a matter of if we're going to do it, but how we're going to do it," Trustee Dan Servi said.

Trustee David Saltiel expects homeowners will want to take advantage of the tax benefits now being offered for alternative energy generators. He predicted solar panels will be particularly popular.

"They are viable economically, and functional," Saltiel said.

The moratorium comes at a time when wind energy has been in the local news.

A wind turbine at a Libertyville business has been criticized by some area residents for being too noisy and disruptive, and those complaints led to it recently being deactivated while officials seek to remedy the situation.

Conversely, a turbine has been operating at a Gurnee restaurant without any public complaints.

Blomberg, who did not attend Monday's village board meeting in Lincolnshire, said he hopes village staff is able to develop rules for alternative energy generators by the time the moratorium expires.