Proposed power plant moves forward with mixed reviews

By Bob Balgemann

REPORTER

A proposal to operate a natural gas-fired peak power plant has received differing recommendations from two advisory bodies of the Boone County Board.

The zoning board of appeals (ZBA), in a 3-0-1 vote Dec. 27, recommended approval subject to 25 conditions. The planning, zoning, and building (PZB) committee voted 3-2 on Jan. 4 to recommend denial. PZB is one of seven standing committees of the county board and is comprised of five board members.

The next stop will be the county board at its Jan. 18 meeting. The board will have the option of approving or denying the requested special use permit, or referring it back to the zoning board for further discussion.

Power Ventures Group (PVG) LLC, Kansas City, Mo., is proposing to operate the plant at the southeast corner of Interstate 90 and the Garden Prairie Road interchange, in unincorporated Spring Township.

In providing background on the issue, county land planner Hilary Arther said the county board, in 2009, approved a special use permit for PVG, to build the Garden Prairie Energy Facility. That was to be a 100-megawatt, natural gas-fired, peak-loaded electrical generating facility.

Subsequent to approval, she said PVG found it difficult to finance the original equipment and withdrew its permit. The plan was to repurpose the energy facility, while utilizing the latest technology.

The new application, she said, reflects using state-of-the-art technology in the form of three larger turbines, which replace the 12 reciprocating engines requested in the original application.

The 20-acre parcel, housing a vacant energy facility, is in A-1, Agriculture Preservation, as is all surrounding property. All of the neighboring land is in agricultural use.

County staff recommended approval of the special use permit, subject to more than 20 conditions.

However, the Spring Township Board of Trustees at its Dec. 12 meeting recommended against issuing the permit.

In a letter to the ZBA, township Supervisor Ryan Kufalk stated the board discussed many issues related to the plant. But, specifically, it cited the “excessive water use” of the plant, and it being located within an agricultural area of the county’s comprehensive plan as being reasons to recommend denial.

John Cleland, of Capron, presented a letter of opposition from the Winnebago-Boone County Farm Bureau. Its primary concern was the use went against the county code and the comprehensive plan. Also, the use was better suited for land along the I-90 corridor, which is zoned industrial.

The ZBA had questions about fire protection at the plant, such as fuel storage, water supply, and hydrant location.

County Fire District II Chief Brad Bartell said the department works with the county building department before any permits are issued.

He wrote that the board’s concerns were covered by various fire codes.

“This code also references 74 other NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) codes that they would also have to abide by,” he said. “So, I can assure you that there is a process in place that covers your concerns pertaining to fire protection.”

In reference to the second question, about mutual aid agreements, Chief Bartell wrote that District II has “a very diverse mutual aid plan in place through the MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System). These plans are trained on and updated regularly, and give an almost unlimited source of assistance from local, state, and federal agencies.”

Among the questions from the public were who would benefit from the additional electricity generated by the plant; how many hours a day would the plant be operating; fire protection; the impact on property values; and noise, both pre and post-construction.

ZBA Chairman Brian Van Laar and members Joan Krumm and Steve Schabacker voted to recommend approval of the permit, while Vice Chairman Tony Savino abstained. Member Mark Rohde was absent.

PZB Chairman Denny Ellingson and members Ray Larson and Brad Stark voted against issuing the permit. Support came from Vice Chairman Marshall Newhouse and member Jessica Muellner.