HR0933 LRB094 19603 RSP 55818 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Illinois families living near wind farms often
3 oppose their construction out of fear that the windmills will
4 decrease property values; and
 
5     WHEREAS, The development of wind energy is an important
6 renewable resource that benefits the environment and health of
7 Illinois residents; wind energy is free from emissions and
8 important for the future prosperity and energy independence of
9 this State; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Illinois has only exploited a small fraction of
11 the wind energy potential that exists; Illinois has the wind
12 resources to produce 6,963 megawatts of wind energy, but only
13 produces 51 megawatts; and as wind energy production increases,
14 its cost effectiveness increases because production costs
15 drop; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Community opposition related to fears of property
17 value depreciation often prevents a wind farm from being
18 developed; this has occurred at the developed Mendota Hills
19 wind farm and the proposed Heartland Grand Ridge wind farm; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Ironically, wind farms usually do not actually
21 decrease property values; property surrounding wind farms has
22 usually increased in value; a State program to compensate
23 families for lost property values, if that occurs, due to the
24 proximity of a wind farm may be a low-cost method to encourage
25 future wind farm development; therefore, be it
 
26     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
27 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
28 we urge the Illinois Commerce Commission to study the impact of
29 wind farms on surrounding real property values and the
30 feasibility of a State program to reimburse families near

 

 

HR0933 - 2 - LRB094 19603 RSP 55818 r

1 proposed wind farms for actual property value depreciation
2 costs; and be it further
 
3     RESOLVED, That the Illinois Commerce Commission report
4 these findings to the Governor and the General Assembly by
5 January 1, 2007; and be it further
 
6     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7 presented to the Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission
8 and Governor Blagojevich.