Ethanol Plant Developer Gains More Land For Rail Yard

Winnebago County, IL - Neighbors of the planned ethanol plant to be built near Meridian and Cunningham roads held up red construction paper at Thursdays Winnebago County Board meeting. Despite their show of opposition to the project, the county board approved re-zoning additional land from agricultural to heavy industrial with a 21-7 vote. "We are pleased by the board`s decision," says Edgar Reilly, Counsel for Wight Partners, the ethanol plants developer. "We think it was the right decision. They`ve obviously thought long and hard about this going through the process. And we`re very pleased with what`s going on and we look forward to moving forward with the project." According to Wight Partners, the additional 54.6 acres wasnt included in the original proposal because the railroad made some changes after the fact. Wight says the Canadian National Railroad switched the type of trains it would use to transport to unit trains, making more room necessary. "We reacted to that appropriately to help the efficiency of the plant and the success of the project," says Reilly. Wight Partners says transportation plays a key role in the project, adding that trains will take truck traffic off of the highways. But residents called testimonies from Wight Partners "a charade" saying its unfortunate board members arent looking at the inconsistencies. "We`ve given them the facts, you can see the inconsistencies," says Faye Lyon, counsel for the residents opposing the project because of environmental and property value concerns. "Theres inconsistencies in their testimony from the first hearing given to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the application they submitted to the EPA. County board members asked Wight Partners to withdraw its $3 million lawsuit filed against the residents. But Wight says its the residents who are abusing the legal system to delay the plants construction. Last year eight neighbors opposed to the plant filed a lawsuit attempting to overturn the county boards decision to approve the re-zoning of 60 acres of land in April. After Judge Janet Holmgren dismissed the complaint, residents filed an appeal. Reilly says hell work with the residents to reach a settlement. "We are absolutely committed to continuing work with the neighbors to resolve the situation," says Reilly. But Lyon says the residents will continue the legal battle. "We`re going to continue to fight as long as there`s an opportunity for us to fight," says Lyon. Reilly wouldnt speculate when Wight Partners would break ground to build the ethanol plant.