Illinois Law Streamlines Zoning Process For Wind Farms

 Gov. J.B. Pritzker predicts growth in wind-energy development after signing a law streamlining zoning rules.

The Democrat signed legislation (HB2988) Friday that allows only counties and municipalities to establish standards for developing wind farms. Townships will no longer have authority in the process.

Pritzker says the law will spur investment in rural areas, create jobs and pour tens of millions of dollars into the pockets of landowners and farmers and into government accounts in the form of property taxes.

According to Capitol News Illinois, the bill was inspired by two Douglas County townships, Murdock and Newman, which enacted wind farm regulations for a specific wind farm project that were stricter than those passed by the county board.

The measure was sponsored by Chicago Democrats Rep. Ann Williams and Sen. Bill Cunningham. Its co-sponsors included central Illinois State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Raymond).

Cunningham says the law will end "unnecessary government regulation" in creating wind farms.