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Cook County adopts clarifying amendments to wind energy ordinance to ease residential installations
Summary
The board unanimously adopted staff-recommended amendments to the Cook County Wind Energy Conversion Systems Ordinance Feb. 25, clarifying distinctions between small residential windmills and larger commercial systems and easing requirements for residents.
The Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved proposed amendments to the Cook County Wind Energy Conversion Systems Ordinance during its Feb. 25 meeting, intending to clarify regulatory expectations for small residential wind energy installations.
Neva of county land services told the board that staff proposed the changes after encountering language that treated small residential wind towers the same as large commercial systems. She said staff and the planning commission revised the ordinance language to make standards clearer and more reasonable for property owners seeking to install a residential windmill. The planning commission recommended the amendments unanimously after a public hearing that produced no written comments, Neva said.
Commissioner Gamble commended staff and the planning commission for clear narratives and rationale supporting the changes. The motion to adopt the amendments included two specific changes to sections 2.09 and 2.72 as recommended by staff; the board adopted the amendments unanimously.
The board did not receive objections at the meeting. County staff indicated the amendment is intended to preserve public safety and environmental protections while removing unnecessary barriers for small-scale, noncommercial wind installations.
The board’s action was recorded as unanimous.
