The DeKalb County Board approved the controversial wind farm proposal by a 16-4 vote Wednesday.

Over 150 people attended the meeting, which was moved to the Carl Sandburg Auditorium in the Holmes Student Center to provide enough seating for the large crowd. The March 21 hearing lasted 18 hours and was moved to Sycamore High School to accommodate the large attendance, according to an April 2 Northern Star article.

County Board Member Paul Stoddard said he feels the positives of the project outweigh the negatives. Stoddard added that the concerns raised by the community about the turbines were important to examine.

“Unfortunately we’re asking a few homeowners to bear the brunt of this,” he said. “I know that’s not fair. I know that’s not something we want to do, but we have to consider the greater good of the entire county.”

Building the turbines will help stimulate the local economy and provide tax benefits for the county, Stoddard said.

Two NIU police officers provided security at the meeting, but the largely upset crowd walked out solemn and peacefully.

Though the proposal passed, county board members discussed several concerns with the project.

County Board Member Scott Newport said the project is a zoning issue and because the project is not essential, it doesn’t comply with county zoning regulations.

“One the county’s goals is to protect the county’s agriculture heritage,” he said. “This project will consume nearly 200 acres of prime farmland.”

Though in favor of the wind farm, Stoddard talked about the aesthetic changes the turbines will make in the county.

“I understand that these will change the character of that part of the county: it will not look the same after this project is completed.” Stoddard said. “That is a very serious concern in my mind.”

County Board Member Riley Oncken said he feels the scope of the project is too big and he has too many doubts about the proposal to approve it.

The proposal calls for 119 turbines to be built in Shabbona, Milan, Afton and Clinton Townships in DeKalb County, according to a March 23 Northern Star article.