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SUPPORT OF ’85 BEARS Two former players visit Lake in the Hills for charity golf tournament / C1
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Opposition growing for power plant
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$450M proposed Oakwood Hills project would be near village hall By JEFF ENGELHARDT jengelhardt@shawmedia.com OAKWOOD HILLS – Opposition is quickly growing to a proposed $450 million, natural gas power plant in Oakwood Hills. More than 280 people have formed a Facebook group, called Stop the Oakwood Hills Power Plant, while the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County have two meetings this week with representatives from the Sierra Club, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois State Nature Preserves Commission and other organizations to gather facts before taking an official stance. The 430-megawatt, natural gas plant would be located along Valley View Road near the village hall, which project engineer Conrad Anderson called an ideal location because of the already existing power and natural gas lines for the plant to make a connection. But it also would need about 1.5 million gallons of water a day to operate. And while the majority of water would come from water treatment facilities, some would be drawn from a deep-water aquifer, worrying some residents about future water supply and effects on the Fox River. Residents also brought up concerns about property values, the proximity to the
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school and pollution. Chris Reining, who started the Facebook group, said he was inspired to do so after receiving strong support over the weekend for his petition to stop the plant, including from his neighbor Mike Riley. Riley, who has lived in Oakwood Hills for 34 years, said there is no reason a village the size of Oakwood Hills should pursue such a large energy project. “It’s much better than coal fire or some of the alternatives, but people feel it has been kept a deep, dark secret,” Riley said. “I hate to be the ‘not in my backyard’ guy, but that’s exactly what this is. A small village like ours does not need a plan of this sort.” Riley said the project and lack of information on it reminds him of a potential housing development proposed for the area about 17 years ago. He said residents successfully rallied to prevent that project and believed it could be done again.
Photos by Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Main Stay Therapeutic Farm volunteer Sonja Lilljeberg of Chicago takes a horse for a ride in between therapy sessions Tuesday in Richmond. The farm was the latest to donate a 40-acre easement to The Land Conservancy, which now has nearly 2,100 acres.
Land donations help preservation effort in county By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO sdibenedetto@shawmedia.com RICHMOND – More than a year ago, the staff at Main Stay Therapeutic Farm began talking about what would become of their 40-acre property if the group ceased to exist. They turned to The Land Conservancy of McHenry County for answers. After signing a few legal documents, Main Stay made the decision last month to keep its land overlooking the Glacial Park conservation area intact, whether or not the group sells it in the future. “So much of what we believe in – our mission here – is about showing respect for the animals, the land and nature,” said Main Stay Executive Director Loriann Dowell. “It really aligned with our organization’s values.” Main Stay, a nonprofit that uses animals and nature to treat people with social and emotional disorders, signed a conservation easement to ensure its 40-acre property in Richmond would remain in its natural habitat regardless of how the title switches hands.
See POWER PLANT, page A4
Horses graze through wooded areas at Main Stay Therapeutic Farm on Tuesday in Richmond. The Land Conservancy has helped numerous property owners preserve their own land even after they die or sell it through conservation easements. Nearly 2,100 acres of open space and farmland have been donated to The Land Conservancy through the easement process.
It’s a tool many property owners use following a life-altering event, such as a family death, that stirs their thinking about how their land would change in the future, said The Land Conservancy Executive Director Lisa Haderlein.
See DONATIONS, page A4
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The district never imagined we would able to preserve all the open land in the county. It’s a collaborative effort between groups like The Land Conservancy and private owners, to protect the treasurers of our county.”
Rendering provided
The long sought energy facility in Oakwood Hills is closer to reality as a joint project between Northland Power and Enventure Partners would bring a 430-megawatt electric generating facility to the area. It would be a cash cow for Oakwood Hills, bringing more than $500,000 annually to schools in property taxes.
– Elizabeth Kessler, McHenry County Conservation District executive director
Illinois governor candidates exchange criticisms at forum The ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO – The candidates for Illinois governor hammered each other Monday, with Republican Bruce Rauner saying that Gov. Pat Quinn hasn’t delivered for African-Americans and the Quinn campaign suggesting Rauner profited from a business that provided substandard care to the developmentally disabled. The two issues emerged Monday at a business forum and after a weekend news report alleging a long-term care company once tied to Rauner faced
lawsuits and disciplinary action over the mistreatment of residents. Quinn’s running mate, Paul Vallas, told reporters in Chicago that more questions needed to be answered about Rauner’s involvement with American Habilitation Services. Rauner’s former private equity firm launched the for-profit company in 1996. The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises reported Sunday that allegations included fatalities and “deplorable” living conditions. In one case, the state
of Texas took over a care center after an 11-year-old resident died. “This is the latest on a series of revelations about problems Gov. Pat that he’s had with Quinn businesses and businesses that he’s invested in,” Vallas said of Rauner. “Either you’re a successful man who takes responsibilities or you’re a successful profiteer who ignores responsibilities.”
Rauner, a venture capitalist from Winnetka, told The Associated Press that criticism of the company and Bruce the management Rauner team picked by his firm, GTCR, was fair. Rauner said that he wasn’t personally involved. He didn’t sit on the board or manage day-to-day operations, a campaign spokesman said. “That company failed.
There’s really no excuse for it,” Rauner said, adding that management team chosen by GTCR “let us down.” Meanwhile, the Illinois Republican Party shot back by pointing to cases of neglect of residents in state-run facilities under Quinn’s tenure, and called Vallas’ news conference “shameful.” Vallas said any incidents weren’t comparable since Rauner was a businessman trying to make money. Rauner stepped down from
See GOVERNOR, page A4
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WHERE IT’S AT
Preserving history
Final blow
Investigation
JA Frate’s Joe Alger travels to NYC retrieve a beam that was part of World Trade Center / A3
Hospital proposal in Crystal Lake receives final rejection / A3
Citigroup to pay $7B in subprime mortgages probe / B6
Advice ...........................D2 Business........................B6 Buzz................................C6 Classified..................D4-16 Comics...........................D3 Health...........................D1-2 Local News.................A2-6
Lottery...........................A2 Nation&World ...........B3-5 Puzzles...........................D4 Obituaries.....................A6 Opinion..........................A7 Sports...........................C1-5 Weather.........................A8
Voice your opinion If the election for governor was today, whom would you vote for? Vote online at NWHerald.com.
Inside Poll shows edge for Bruce Rauner. PAGE A2