News Summary

By Natalie Morales

Staff Writer

URBANA — The prosecutor's office will facilitate a weekly meeting to provide open discussion about the effects wind energy development could have on Champaign County.

The five-member Wind Turbine Study Group is comprised of Champaign County Township Trustee Association member Jim Virts, Champaign County Farm Bureau member Jon Berry, Champaign County Engineer Fereidoun Shokouhi, Everpower Renewables Project Developer Mike Speerschneider and Union Neighbors United member Julie Johnson.

"Our approach is comprehensive and we're trying to make sure we understand the impact of these propositions," Shokouhi said.

The group was created to provide a place for perspectives on the pros and cons of wind energy development to be debated.

"We wanted to get the parties together and create an atmosphere to be able to come to some consensus to address concerns of both parties on wind turbines," Shokouhi said.

Champaign County Prosecutor Nick Selvaggio and Christopher Walker, an attorney representing some members of Union Neighbors United, will provide legal consultation to the study group as needed.

Members were asked to bring their ideas and concerns about local wind energy prospects to Tuesday's meeting for the group to try to lay everything on the table and begin on common ground, Shokouhi said.

"I'm encouraged," Johnson said. "I think that it's a forum in which we can state what we believe to be true and find out if other people agree or not."

The public is welcome to observe the study group meetings, which will be at 7 a.m. Tuesdays on the first floor of the Champaign County Courthouse, 200 N. Main St.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0226 or nmorales@coxohio.com