Letter to the Editor:
The decisions made regarding wind energy projects today may affect farm families and rural communities for 30 to 40 years or longer. County Board members have a responsibility not only to today’s landowners, but also to the children and grandchildren who will inherit these farms and live with the consequences.
Potential Benefits for Future Generations
• Stable lease income that may help keep farms in the family.
• Financial support for future farming operations, education, and estate planning.
• Additional income during difficult agricultural years.
• Greater long-term financial stability for some families.
Potential Concerns for Future Generations
• Restrictions on future land use and home construction.
• Family disagreements over longterm lease obligations.
• Changes to the rural landscape and neighboring properties.
• Risks associated with company bankruptcies, ownership changes, or inadequate decommissioning funds.
• Limited choices for future generations who were not involved in today’s decisions.
The Responsibility of County Boards Our community should recognize and thank County Board members for the considerable time, effort, and dedication they have already invested in developing and adopting a Wind Energy Ordinance. Creating such an ordinance requires balancing property rights, economic opportunities, community concerns, and public safety.
However, no ordinance can anticipate every circumstance that may arise over the next several decades. The future is unpredictable. Wind companies may be sold, ownership may change multiple times, companies may experience financial difficulties or bankruptcy, construction costs may rise because of inflation, and technologies and regulations may evolve.
Because of these uncertainties, a wind ordinance should not be viewed as a permanent document. It should be regularly monitored, reviewed, and updated when necessary to ensure that it continues to protect landowners, taxpayers, and future generations.
County Boards have an ongoing responsibility to:
• Periodically review decommissioning costs.
• Monitor the financial strength of project owners.
• Adjust financial security requirements for inflation.
• Evaluate lessons learned from operating projects.
• Update ordinances as conditions and circumstances change.
The decisions made today will affect our children and grandchildren tomorrow. By remaining engaged and willing to revisit and strengthen ordinances when needed, County Board members can help ensure that the benefits of wind energy are realized while protecting the long-term interests of future generations and the communities they will inherit.
Jere Greuel Industry, IL
