CLINTON — An attorney suing the county on behalf of 82 clients who oppose the wind energy project told county board members Feb. 18 not to give-in to a fear of lawsuits.

The suit was filed on behalf of residents who would live within or nearby the footprint of the Alta Farms II wind project in northwest DeWitt County.

Attorney Rick Porter revisited the vote taken in July 2020 by the board in office at that time.  The board in July voted to approve the special use permit for the Alta Farms II project, going against recommendations of the Regional Planning Commission (RPC) and the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).  Members of those boards felt the application presented by Enel Energy was incomplete and also violated elements of the county’s wind energy ordinance.

“As a new county board, you can correct this injustice,” Porter told board members on Feb. 18. 

Porter said the new board could vote to find the special use permits for the project null and void.

At this point, DeWitt County State’s Attorney Dan Markwell, who represents the county, interrupted.

“Are you giving legal advice to my clients,” Markwell asked Porter.

• See the full story in the Friday, Feb. 26 print edition of the Clinton Journal or Thursday in the Journal E-Edition for subscribers.