A public hearing before the Kankakee County Zoning Board of Appeals will consider an expansion of the Pilot Hill Wind Farm near Herscher.

The Kelly Creek wind farm project includes 108 counties extending into Ford County.

Kelly Creek will include 108 turbines between the two counties. The current 103 turbines already built in Pilot Hill are part of EDF Development. The parent company, EDF Renewable Development Inc., is seeking a special use permit for the project.

The public hearing is at 6 pm Monday at the Kankakee Public Library.

Delbert Skimmerhorn, Kankakee County planner, said he's expecting a pretty good turnout.

40 landowners in Kankakee County and 70 in Ford County have entered into leases with Kelly Creek to allow the development of the project. The Kankakee County portion will include 33 turbines. The company's application states any potential impact would be to local roads and scattered farm homes in the area.

The public hearing will be the first step in creating any special conditions on the development.
John Baker, EDF's project developer, said the project would create up to 12 permanent jobs locally for maintenance and 39 jobs within the state. The construction project will employ about 120 workers.

Pilot Hill is expected to create between $2 million and $3 million annually in new property tax revenues and lease income to local property owners. A similar figure is expected with Kelly Creek, and will likely exceed it.

94.1 WGFA