Story posted Friday, November 13, 2009
DP May Look Into Harnessing Wind Energy
By DWIGHT ESAU Journal & Topics Reporter
The next generation of clean energy is starting up now, right in the Journal area's back yard.
One prominent area business recently purchased a wind turbine for itself, and at least one municipality may begin researching the feasibility of installing wind energy in its community very soon.
The business and the city got together last week at the Great Escape Restaurant in Schiller Park, 9540 W. Irving Park Road, next door to the village hall. The occasion was the official unveiling of an 80-foot-high wind turbine behind the restaurant that now provides the establishment's power.
The turbine has a 62-foot-wide propeller span that converts wind and solar power into "green" energy. It's known around Schiller Park as "Big Windy."
The turbine adds to the prominence of the restaurant. The Great Escape and its predecessor businesses at that location date back to 1887, and the restaurant's site is considered a local historic landmark.
The city is Des Plaines. Mayor Marty Moylan and Ald. Mark Walslten met with Brian Great, owner of the Great Escape, last Friday to discuss the process by which he decided to switch from electricity to wind-driven "green" energy.
Just before the turbine "ribbon cutting" ceremony started, the Journal spoke with Great.
"This is not a financial decision, It's an environmental one," he said. "This is costing us about $350,000 and we are doing it for clean, green energy. It will take us at least 10 years to recoup our investment."
Walsten, a strong advocate of a clean environment and energy sources, said that he hopes to persuade his fellow aldermen to begin a study of how wind energy can be brought to Des Plaines. "We have to do something to get out from under our dependence on foreign oil for our energy," he said. "This dependence has brought us nothing but problems.
"Wind energy is the wave of the future," he went on. "Farmers are leasing and sometimes owning turbines in agricultural areas all over the state."
Partly to prove he was serious, Walsten said he was going to Ottawa this week to attend a public forum, on wind energy sponsored by the Illinois Wind Working Group and the University of Illinois Extension Service. These groups, in cooperation with others, are coordinating a series of such meetings to help property owners and municipalities make informed decisions about wind energy developments and leases.
The forums are called Wind Energy 101.
On a website that published a recent article on wind energy issues, officials voiced both enthusiasm and a word of caution.
"Wind energy in Illinois is going to experience explosive growth," said David Loomis, director of the Center for Renewable Energy at Illinois State University. "Illinois recently surpassed the 1,000 megawatt mark for wind capacity and I see no end to the projects that are coming online."
"Landowners need to consider the long-term implications before signing a contract with a developer," said Stanley Solomon of the University of Illinois.
"While there are definite benefits to wind energy, the impacts on future development of the land should be part of the decision. Limitations on locations and other such issues are among those that should be considered. These matters are being discussed during the forums."
Speak Out!
Comments are edited first by Journal staff before running in print and appearing online.