McHenry County Blog

As the Illinois House passed legislation to define the burning of tires in the poverty-stricken Ford Heights as green, renewable energy, an incinerator in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, defaulted on a bond payment of $425,000.

The legislative action on Senate Bill 380 will take subsidies away from wind mills, geothermal and solar power projects.

Here are some windmills we saw in Idaho last summer.

The incinerator is apparently already operating, but needs state taxpayer subsidies to stay afloat.

The incinerator not only has money problems, it pollutes the air.

If the facility closes, 17 jobs will be lost.

The bill passed 61-45.  I should have said “barely passed,” because bills need sixty votes to pass the House.

Locally, State Reps. Mark Beaubien and Jack Franks voted against the bill.  Mike Tryon was excused from voting on the bill.

Earlier all Illinois Senators supported the bill, which had no content.  It was what legislators call “a shell bill.”

I wonder how Pam Althoff and Dan Duffy will votes when there is substance to the bill, which, I would point out did not surface until the supposed last week of the legislative session, a time really sneaky ideas surface.

(That brings up the subject of what anyone would vote for such an obvious shell bill, knowing that you have no idea how it will end up.)

The Chicago Tribune article was written by Michael Hawthorne and Michelle Manchir.

This sounds like a similar bill I opposed in the 1990′s. It was one of those strange years when environmental and economic priorities merged. Voting against the ill-conceived idea of a South Suburban incinerator to burn shredded tires was a “two-for” for those rating systems. I think I ended up with the highest ranking from the Illinois Environmental Council that year.

One hundred and fifty-one 398-foot wind turbines have been proposed along the DeKalb-Lee County line area, according to a public notice from DeKalb County. There are 133 planned for southwestern DeKalb County and 18 across the Lee County line.

Here is where you can find the owners of the properties.

It will be spread over four townships in western DeKalb County and an unknown number in Lee County.

The DeKalb townships are Milan, Afton, Clinton and Shabbana, all of which can be seen on this map of southwestern DeKalb County.

The developer is FPL Energy Illinois Wind, LLC (a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC), located at 700 Universe Blvd., Juno Beach, Florida.

Names of the individual land owners are listed on the zoning notice.

A zoning hearing will be held Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 7 PM in the DeKalb County Health Department, Multi-Purpose Room, at 2574 N. Annie Glidden in DeKalb.

Note the location of the high power lines in the area and the pink areas, where the wind blows the most. (Click to enlarge the maps.)

= = = = =
The wind mills shown are at Paw Paw west of Interstate 39.

One hundred and fifty-one 398-foot wind turbines have been proposed along the DeKalb-Lee County line area, according to a public notice from DeKalb County. There are 133 planned for southwestern DeKalb County and 18 across the Lee County line.

Here is where you can find the owners of the properties.

It will be spread over four townships in western DeKalb County and an unknown number in Lee County.

The DeKalb townships are Milan, Afton, Clinton and Shabbana, all of which can be seen on this map of southwestern DeKalb County.

The developer is FPL Energy Illinois Wind, LLC (a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC), located at 700 Universe Blvd., Juno Beach, Florida.

Names of the individual land owners are listed on the zoning notice.

A zoning hearing will be held Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 7 PM in the DeKalb County Health Department, Multi-Purpose Room, at 2574 N. Annie Glidden in DeKalb.

Note the location of the high power lines in the area and the pink areas, where the wind blows the most. (Click to enlarge the maps.)

= = = = =
The wind mills shown are at Paw Paw west of Interstate 39.

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog outlined printed the first half of David Ulm’s quest to produce Carpentersville District 300′s electricity from windmills.

Today we look at how he proposes to pay for it.

“We’re ready to move as soon as our Met (Meteorological) Tower results come in next November.

“Under the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICEF), we received $30,000 to do this test” Ulm said.

“At the end of the 12 months, we will then apply to them for a grant to get a tower. They will only give grants based on a 12-month study.

“We are confident we would gain enough information in a 3-month period to move forward,” but Ulm told me that the rules of the ICEF require a 12-month test.

“The tower went up in Nov. It shows we could support a tower out there. For the first three months we are 87%.”

Nevertheless, Ulm takes a conservative approach.

“We are talking about a $6 million project and I’m not about to waste any taxpayers’ money.”

Ulm explained that the Foundation will provide about 10% of the project’s cost.

“The ICCF grant might amount to as much as 10%, $600,000,” he said.

Then, he pointed out what that would mean to District 300:

“The interest on a $6 million bond over ten years is not equal to $600,000.”

But the bonds would be structured so that the savings would pay them back, even if it took more than ten year.

So, maybe free money.

And, what if District 300 decides to build a wind farm somewhere?

“Since each windmill costs $5-6 million,” Ulm said, “with economies of scale, if we were to install 5 or 6 on one site, we’d probably be looking at $30 million.

“Assuming at 80% efficiency, we’d be looking at a 15 year payback.”

And how would that be financed?

“The new stimulus package is available online. There are quite a few grants available for school district construction and infrastructure improvements and there is a line in there that Dr. (Cheryl) Crates found that shows interest bond money.

“There are currently Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREB). Those have been around since 2006. $200 million for 2006, $400 million part of the farm bill in 2007. They threw it in under the stimulus bill of 2008–$400 million.

“First come, first served.

“We could get it interest free because the lender would get a tax credit equal to what the interest would be. It’s a ‘zero interest’ loan.

“There’s plenty of ways to go.”

But to get the electricity to schools in Carpentersville, Dundee, Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, etc., use of Commonwealth Edison’s transmission lines would be necessary and less restrictive state laws are needed. (See story yesterday.)

= = = = =
David Olm, Carpentersville School District 300′s Energy Management Coordinator is seen on the upper right. Part of the Paw Paw wind farm is below, seen the day the tornado crossed I-39 shortly before we reached here. Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Crates is seen near the bottom of the article.

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog outlined printed the first half of David Ulm’s quest to produce Carpentersville District 300′s electricity from windmills.

Today we look at how he proposes to pay for it.

“We’re ready to move as soon as our Met (Meteorological) Tower results come in next November.

“Under the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICEF), we received $30,000 to do this test” Ulm said.

“At the end of the 12 months, we will then apply to them for a grant to get a tower. They will only give grants based on a 12-month study.

“We are confident we would gain enough information in a 3-month period to move forward,” but Ulm told me that the rules of the ICEF require a 12-month test.

“The tower went up in Nov. It shows we could support a tower out there. For the first three months we are 87%.”

Nevertheless, Ulm takes a conservative approach.

“We are talking about a $6 million project and I’m not about to waste any taxpayers’ money.”

Ulm explained that the Foundation will provide about 10% of the project’s cost.

“The ICCF grant might amount to as much as 10%, $600,000,” he said.

Then, he pointed out what that would mean to District 300:

“The interest on a $6 million bond over ten years is not equal to $600,000.”

But the bonds would be structured so that the savings would pay them back, even if it took more than ten year.

So, maybe free money.

And, what if District 300 decides to build a wind farm somewhere?

“Since each windmill costs $5-6 million,” Ulm said, “with economies of scale, if we were to install 5 or 6 on one site, we’d probably be looking at $30 million.

“Assuming at 80% efficiency, we’d be looking at a 15 year payback.”

And how would that be financed?

“The new stimulus package is available online. There are quite a few grants available for school district construction and infrastructure improvements and there is a line in there that Dr. (Cheryl) Crates found that shows interest bond money.

“There are currently Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREB). Those have been around since 2006. $200 million for 2006, $400 million part of the farm bill in 2007. They threw it in under the stimulus bill of 2008–$400 million.

“First come, first served.

“We could get it interest free because the lender would get a tax credit equal to what the interest would be. It’s a ‘zero interest’ loan.

“There’s plenty of ways to go.”

But to get the electricity to schools in Carpentersville, Dundee, Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, etc., use of Commonwealth Edison’s transmission lines would be necessary and less restrictive state laws are needed. (See story yesterday.)

= = = = =
David Olm, Carpentersville School District 300′s Energy Management Coordinator is seen on the upper right. Part of the Paw Paw wind farm is below, seen the day the tornado crossed I-39 shortly before we reached here. Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Crates is seen near the bottom of the article.

Starting my quest to learn what’s up in windmill electrical generation was Carpentersville School District 300′s efforts in Hampshire.

So far wind is not even making a dent in the territory served by Commonwealth Edison.

“They don’t want us producing our own electricity,” District 300 Energy Czar told me.

And why would the company want it to?

No reason, because a Com Ed affiliate generates electric energy from other sources. Think nuclear power.

Why pose even the tiniest threat by agreeing to make it easier for wind generated electricity?

First schools, community colleges and county governments and cities would get their feet in the door, next anyone might build a windmill.

Talking to Ulm, I learned of one impediment that could easily be solved with a change in state law.

“Existing legislation says they may negotiate,” Ulm said.

“’Oh, that’s nice. No thanks,’” Ulm suggested would be Com Ed’s reply.

District 300 State Rep. Fred Crespo’s House Bill 6660 might do the trick. It was introduced too late for action last year, but will undoubtedly be brought back for a serious effort this year.

The bill would require Com Ed and other utilities to provide what is called “aggregate net-metering” for schools and other local governmental entities.

“That would allow us to get that credit for offsite usage, Ulm explained. “What we want is for that credit to be applied to ALL of our other accounts.” Now, “excess energy created at Hampshire High School will only be credited for the HHS account.”

That would mean a school district like 300 could hook one or more windmills into the power grid and be given credit for the power they generate by windmill.

If, during a windy time of year—think the last three months—more power was generated than used by the government or governments involved in an intergovernmental agreement, credit would have to be given for power delivered by Com Ed in slack times.

When I was in the General Assembly, I went through wars between hydroelectric producers and Com Ed and predict there will be a really good fight.

Having the active support of newly-sworn in and Citizens Utility Board instigator Governor Pat Quinn, along with the re-energized desire for energy independence, might sway enough votes for passage.

The Hampshire High School-Gary Wright Elementary site is large enough for one windmill, Ulm says.

“We have a peak demand of 1.1 megawatts. Looking at a 1.5 megawatt wind generator, at maximum, we would be generating 80-85 percent of the capacity of the turbine.”

Passage of “aggregate net-metering” legislation would allow District 300 to build more, perhaps the five or six other wind mils that would allow the district to be electric energy self-sufficient.

“We spend in the district roughly $3 million on electricity. If we could secure a site (or sites) that would allow 5-6 1.5 mg watt wind turbines, we could produce enough electricity to power the entire district,” Ulm told me.

Under current law, District 300 would be required to sting it own electric wires from any such windmills to each of its far-flung schools.

It seems pretty obvious that Com ed would not make that easy and would probably make it too expensive to work.

Gilberts Elementary School and Jacobs High School have possibilities, Ulm suggested.

The transmission problem does not exist at the Hampshire site.

“We’re sizing it to handle the power for the two schools on that site,” Ulm said.
100 acres. Gary Wright Elementary and Hampshire High School have a peak demand of 1.1 megawatts.

“We’re looking at a 1.5 megawatt wind generator. At maximum, we would be generating 80-85 percent the capacity of the turbine. Even with net aggregate metering, we don’t have room at that site for more than one windmill.”

But that means District 300 thinks it does not need a change in state law to make a windmill work at its Hampshire site.

And the financing?

Read tomorrow’s article.

= = = = =
District 300′s Energy Czar David Ulm is seen on top. The wind farm is near Paw Paw, Illinois. The photo of Governor Pat Quinn was taken right after he was sworn in. The swinging temporary traffic lights at at Harnish Drive and Randall Road this windy winter.

Starting my quest to learn what’s up in windmill electrical generation was Carpentersville School District 300′s efforts in Hampshire.

So far wind is not even making a dent in the territory served by Commonwealth Edison.

“They don’t want us producing our own electricity,” District 300 Energy Czar told me.

And why would the company want it to?

No reason, because a Com Ed affiliate generates electric energy from other sources. Think nuclear power.

Why pose even the tiniest threat by agreeing to make it easier for wind generated electricity?

First schools, community colleges and county governments and cities would get their feet in the door, next anyone might build a windmill.

Talking to Ulm, I learned of one impediment that could easily be solved with a change in state law.

“Existing legislation says they may negotiate,” Ulm said.

“’Oh, that’s nice. No thanks,’” Ulm suggested would be Com Ed’s reply.

District 300 State Rep. Fred Crespo’s House Bill 6660 might do the trick. It was introduced too late for action last year, but will undoubtedly be brought back for a serious effort this year.

The bill would require Com Ed and other utilities to provide what is called “aggregate net-metering” for schools and other local governmental entities.

“That would allow us to get that credit for offsite usage, Ulm explained. “What we want is for that credit to be applied to ALL of our other accounts.” Now, “excess energy created at Hampshire High School will only be credited for the HHS account.”

That would mean a school district like 300 could hook one or more windmills into the power grid and be given credit for the power they generate by windmill.

If, during a windy time of year—think the last three months—more power was generated than used by the government or governments involved in an intergovernmental agreement, credit would have to be given for power delivered by Com Ed in slack times.

When I was in the General Assembly, I went through wars between hydroelectric producers and Com Ed and predict there will be a really good fight.

Having the active support of newly-sworn in and Citizens Utility Board instigator Governor Pat Quinn, along with the re-energized desire for energy independence, might sway enough votes for passage.

The Hampshire High School-Gary Wright Elementary site is large enough for one windmill, Ulm says.

“We have a peak demand of 1.1 megawatts. Looking at a 1.5 megawatt wind generator, at maximum, we would be generating 80-85 percent of the capacity of the turbine.”

Passage of “aggregate net-metering” legislation would allow District 300 to build more, perhaps the five or six other wind mils that would allow the district to be electric energy self-sufficient.

“We spend in the district roughly $3 million on electricity. If we could secure a site (or sites) that would allow 5-6 1.5 mg watt wind turbines, we could produce enough electricity to power the entire district,” Ulm told me.

Under current law, District 300 would be required to sting it own electric wires from any such windmills to each of its far-flung schools.

It seems pretty obvious that Com ed would not make that easy and would probably make it too expensive to work.

Gilberts Elementary School and Jacobs High School have possibilities, Ulm suggested.

The transmission problem does not exist at the Hampshire site.

“We’re sizing it to handle the power for the two schools on that site,” Ulm said.
100 acres. Gary Wright Elementary and Hampshire High School have a peak demand of 1.1 megawatts.

“We’re looking at a 1.5 megawatt wind generator. At maximum, we would be generating 80-85 percent the capacity of the turbine. Even with net aggregate metering, we don’t have room at that site for more than one windmill.”

But that means District 300 thinks it does not need a change in state law to make a windmill work at its Hampshire site.

And the financing?

Read tomorrow’s article.

= = = = =
District 300′s Energy Czar David Ulm is seen on top. The wind farm is near Paw Paw, Illinois. The photo of Governor Pat Quinn was taken right after he was sworn in. The swinging temporary traffic lights at at Harnish Drive and Randall Road this windy winter.

My windmill watcher has reminded me of the following fact:

Commonwealth Edison gets less than 1% of its electricity from wind.

In fact, the twelve-month summary from Com Ed shows ZERO from wind. (Click to enlarge the table or the pie chart below.)

Here’s a pie chart that tells the tale:

According to a ICC resolution adopted in Jul 2007 “…Renewable Portfolio Standard should be set as follows:

• 2% of the bundled retail load should be obtained from renewable energy resources as defined below in 2007,
• 3% in 2008
• 4% in 2009
• 5% in 2010
• 6% in 2011
• 7% in 2012
• 8% in 2013

Looks like Com Ed is at 2%–1% biomass and 1% hydro.

The law says Illinois wind first. There isn’t enough to meet that criteria of 4%. They have to make up the difference by purchasing

An article in Springfield’s State Journal-Register about a new wind farm on I-55 near Lincoln says,

“Illinois gets less than 2 percent of its electricity from wind.”

Does this sound like something our new governor, Pat Quinn will promote or what?

My windmill watcher has reminded me of the following fact:

Commonwealth Edison gets less than 1% of its electricity from wind.

In fact, the twelve-month summary from Com Ed shows ZERO from wind. (Click to enlarge the table or the pie chart below.)

Here’s a pie chart that tells the tale:

According to a ICC resolution adopted in Jul 2007 “…Renewable Portfolio Standard should be set as follows:

• 2% of the bundled retail load should be obtained from renewable energy resources as defined below in 2007,
• 3% in 2008
• 4% in 2009
• 5% in 2010
• 6% in 2011
• 7% in 2012
• 8% in 2013

Looks like Com Ed is at 2%–1% biomass and 1% hydro.

The law says Illinois wind first. There isn’t enough to meet that criteria of 4%. They have to make up the difference by purchasing

An article in Springfield’s State Journal-Register about a new wind farm on I-55 near Lincoln says,

“Illinois gets less than 2 percent of its electricity from wind.”

Does this sound like something our new governor, Pat Quinn will promote or what?

Enclosed in my October electric bill was an “Environmental Disclosure Information” report from Com Ed for the last twelve months.

When I looked at Com Ed’s sources of electricity, I found that only 1% comes from wind mills.

The biggie, of course, is nuclear power at 58%.

Next is coal at 32%.

4% came from natural gas. Peaker plants, I would imagine.

Also coming in at 1% were hydro and biomass power.

Alternative power sources obviously does not have a high priority for our electric company.

= = = = =
The windmills you see at on Interstate 39 near Paw Paw, Illinois. The photo was taken last June 7th on the way to the Illinois Republican State Convention in Decatur.