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" I agree that solar is a viable renewable energy source. Wind is not. Wind is prohibitively expensive, non-sustainable, brings with it a world of negatives that cannot be swept under the rug and, bottom line, gives us NO power in places with marginal winds like central Illinois. In places where the wind blows enough to produce energy, there are no people and no transmission lines. The energy cannot be stored and degrades significantly if it travels long distances. Check the Department of Energy websites. Illinois wind farms produce POORLY - only about 23-25% year around and, in the summer when we need power the most, only at about 10%, under 8% in July at Ellsworth to be more precise. It is not making appreciable amounts of energy. Additionally, most wind farms can use up to half of what they produce to run their own equipment. Wind is the newest Fleecing of America. "

" You're missing the point here. Subsidies or no subsidies, we need to build a network of renewable energy sources to wean us off of fossil fuels. Wind is a part of that that can be developed now. Many times, when the wind isn't blowing, the sun is shining, and almost always, there is energy being released that can be harnessed by hydropower or geothermal somewhere. We are in an energy crisis because we abandoned renewables for the "cheaper" fossil fuels about 100 years ago. Those will run out...possibly in our lifetime, but surely in that of our children and grandchildren. We cannot sit here with our heads in the sand like you NIMBY's want us to. "

" A wind turbine cannot power a single home without equal amounts of traditional power backing it up at all times. It is a costly and wasteful duplication of services and the threat of blackouts due to adding the unreliable wind mix to the traditional grid is ridiculous. A scam is a scam is a scam - wind power is a scam. With wind power, not only are we beholden to foreign counties for our gas, now we are beholden to them for our electricity as well - a scary thought. Wind has been heavily subsidized in the US since it's inception in the early seventies. It is non-sustainable without massive federal subsidies. And, while other energies are subsidized at a far lesser amount per unit of output, they at least give us something - a dependable form of energy for our money. "

" 3. Electricity use is climbing, not declining. We need to think about systematic approaches to meeting this increasing demand, by looking at not just one solution, but a variety...wind, solar, hydropower. This question is important enough to warrant a relatively small investment in terms of our state and federal budgets...by the way...they get some of that tax money back from the lessors that receive payments and spend that money in the community. "

" While some of your arguments may sound good, there are some fundamental issues with their foundations. 1. Electricity was going up in Illinois regardless of turbine activity. This was a complex process of coming of a government imposed rate freeze in which companies hadn't been able to raise rates for a number of years. When you factor in that the electrical grid is aging and in many cases decaying, any investment in electrical infrastructure is probably a worthwhile investment if we look at it in the long run. 2. Our government wastes a lot of money on all levels. However, I am very glad to see our government investing in alternative energies given that fossil fuels are a finite resource and nuclear power has significantly more NIMBY issues than even wind turbines. "

" I would love to keep my two cents. Please send me a refund for the 40% extra cost I've been paying on my utility bill since January of 2007 to pay for the "Delivery Charges" added to my bill due to transmission lines for the wind turbines. Give me back my federal income taxes which goes to pay the subsidies on these things under the Federal Production Tax Credit. Give me back my state income tax, as well as the additional tax which is paid by me when these wind farms are given tax-free "enterprise zones" to operate in for ten years, cheating the state of Illinois out of millions of dollars in taxes, taxes which as made up by you and I. I'd gladly keep my two cents. "

" Anchor, the cornfields have been around since the mid 1800's. How long have you been around? "

" Please keep your two cents. "

" You can sit under a wind turbine and not experience the noise pollution. Try going out a half mile to a mile away and experience the noise. If noise pollution and flicker effect is not real, then why do wind companies have you sign away your right to protect yourself for a $1,000 payoff in their "Good Neighbor" gag orders? What power? In July, Ellsworth turbines produced at less than 10%. Facilities uses nearly half of what they produce to run their own equipment. All wind power needs continually backed up by traditional power so there is NO gain in power, only increases in bills of everyone in Illinois to pay for the transmission lines being built for these monstrosities. Pickens is pushing these for the millions he'll make in government subsidies and natural gas resources that it takes to back these monsters up. This debacle began when Enron collapsed and sold their wind division so this is essentially Enron II. "

" Sounds like NIMBY to me. I've sat directly under a windmill in Ellsworth. Could not hear a sound. Can't wait until people start complaining about SHADOW POLUTION and nonsense like that. Wake up people! This is the (meager) cost of alternative energy. It has to go somewhere. They can build a windmill in my back yard tomorrow!!! It can only improve the view. I am sick of looking at cornfields anyway. "

" oh please, they are not noisey. if ur supersonic hearing cant tolorate the slight whoosh of the fanblades. Then I am quite sure you must be going deaf from the trucks along the interstate........give me a break. Ive been to many windfarms and all I hear besides a slight whooshing is BIRDS CHIRPING. Must be hard not to have something else to complain about besides a NATURAL power sorce production that at least wont cause toxins or polutions....... "

" Navitas plans to screw the entire town by putting in larger, noisier pieces of industrial sized equipment which should require farther setbacks for safety. Of course, stooge Hammonds plans to rubber stamp through anything they give him. Since they have completely changed the size and scope of the project, it should be required to go through a new permitting process and noise and safety studies be resubmitted. Perhaps those road commissioners should be asking how much HEAVIER those puppies are going to be as well. "