It's meant to give non-participating landowners more protection. The setback requirements for wind turbines built in Iroquois County were given more teeth in a 14-4 vote (Tuesday) by the County Board.

New turbines will need to be at least 12 'rotar diameters' away from the property lines of the non-participating landowners. The current ordinance states turbines must be at least 12 rotar diameters from structures, but only 15-hundred feet from property lines, of the non-participant landowners.

The newly-approved ordinance change does not change the 1,000 foot distance turbines are required to be from those structures located on land that's leased to a wind farm operator.

According to terms of the proposal, landowners would be able to waive the setback requirement, but only if the tower is located no closer than 1,000 feet of a primary structure or property line.

The Zoning Board of Appeals didn't have the support to recommend the changes at a recent meeting. The County Board's Planning & Zoning Committee took up the matter last week, then took the proposed change to the full Board.

Citizens present at (Tuesday's) county board meeting sp0oke in favor of the new changes.

94.1 WGFA