Representatives of a Canadian based wind and solar energy company say they are in the very early stages of deciding whether to put a project in Vermilion County. Liberty Power hosted a public informational meeting last night (Thursday, November 21st) at the Georgetown fairgrounds.
Brett Manzara, Land and Stakeholder Manager for the company, says they want to create a win-win situation. But he adds no option agreements have been signed. Liberty Power is interested in placing an undetermined number of wind turbines and solar panels in southern Vermilion County. The company is looking at a huge area stretching west of Tilton, Westville, and Georgetown toward Fairmount and Jamaica.
Manzara says one of the things they discovered is that there is another company exploring the possibility of placing wind turbines in southern Vermilion County. The county already has a couple of other wind farms.
If the Liberty Power project proceeds, Manzara says data collection and evaluation would begin next year. The permitting process would occur during 2021 and 2022, and construction would likely begin in 2023. It would not be until 2023 or 2024 when commercial operations begin to put power onto the grid.
Although company representatives say they are pleased with the reception they have had in Vermilion County so far, they add the project may or may not move forward.
