After hearing both sides of the proposed wind farm project, the DeKalb County Planning and Regulations Committee voted in favor of passing the petition to the full DeKalb County Board meeting on Feb. 19.

Six members showed their approval, while three decided against furthering the wind farm project.

“Change is in the wind, so to speak, no pun intended,” said Jim MacMurdo, board member representing District 9. “As painful as I find change, I have to support this.”

Other board members told how they’ve received more e-mails and phone calls against the wind farms.

Cliff Simonson, representing District 7, supported those against the turbines.

“I strongly believe in alternative energy,” Simonson said. “But, I believe in democracy more.”

The main concern covered Wednesday night was homes near the turbines. Some residents were concerned with the value of their homes if the turbines were built.

FPL Energy Vice President Dirk Andreas said the company has found a third party that will assess the homes to protect them from losing value for five years if the turbines are built.

It will cost an estimated $500,000 to administrate the five-year program to assess and appraise about 34 homes.

“If a person chooses to sell his home in five years, basically, they won’t lose money,” Andreas said.

Farm owner John Hart is strongly against the wind farms.

“Right outside my picture window there will be two of them,” Hart said. “If this goes through, there will be flashing lights every 12 seconds. I’ll have to keep my shades pulled tight.”

Simonson supported the farmers.

“I may be a bit prejudiced because I come from a family of farmers,” Simonson said. “I’ve seen a lot of sunrises and sunsets without looking at obstructions.”

Renee Kopulos, a biological sciences grad student and treasurer of the Committee for the Preservation of Wildlife, has been following the issue and was excited the board favored it.

“The proposal is good for the community, good for the environment and good for the schools,” Kopulos said.

County Board Member Eileen Dubin, from District 8, believes the windfarms will bring funds in the county and protect farmland from subdivisions.

“I hope we haven’t made a mistake and that this is a positive decision for the county,” Dubin said.