By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

ELLSWORTH, Ill. — A controversial wind farm project located on the wind-swept Bloomington Moraine in eastern McLean County between the villages of Ellsworth, Saybrook and Arrowsmith went online earlier this month with the activation of its first 60 turbines.
Twin Groves Wind Farm, being constructed by Horizon Wind Energy, became the first of many proposed central Illinois wind farm projects to reach fruition.

By the end of March around 120 turbines are expected to be activated out of a total of 240 spread across approximately 21,000 acres of land leased from rural landowners, though the actual acreage of farm land removed from crop production will encompass only 150-200 acres, according to information provided by Horizon. The activation of the first 120 turbines would signal the end of the project’s first phase.

The project, which began in July of last year and is slated for completion by December of 2007, will provide 360 megawatts of wind energy, or enough to meet the annual energy needs of about 120,000 homes.

Horizon officials say the project is also bringing new jobs and substantial tax revenues to the county and local schools. Horizon is investing around $600 million in the Twin Groves Wind Farm project.

According to Horizon, the wind resource market in Illinois was considered to be mediocre until a recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy laboratory identified several areas in the state that could be commercially viable wind sites, including some in central Illinois.

The Twin Groves site is located in one of those areas, which, according to Horizon, “makes it a perfect fit for development with its strong wind resource, excellent access to electricity transmission lines, good proximity to power markets and its wide-open cropland.”

The Twin Groves project is being developed on one of the four largest moraines in the state, formed during the Wisconsin glacial period some 14,000-25,000 years ago.

Horizon said they have entered into thirty-year wind rights land leases with dozens of rural landowners.

Controversy followed the announcement of the project, with objections from area residents ranging from infringement of sight-lines, noise pollution, degradation of rural roads during the construction process, and wildlife and environmental issues, among others.

Horizon hired Curry and Kelling-er, LLC, which the company calls “a well-known consultant to the wind industry that specializes in bird and wildlife issues,” to conduct an “avian risk assessment” to determine the risk to birds and other wildlife at the site.

The consultant’s preliminary report indicated the site is not populated with threatened or endangered species and is not likely to present a significant impact to birds, Horizon announced on their company website.

In addition, the company said it will maintain and restore rural roads impacted by heavy machinery involved in the construction of the project and will work with residents and organizations concerned about any issues related to the wind farm.

According to published news reports, Horizon is considering a third construction phase that would be smaller than the first two stages.
An exact location for the potential third stage has not been selected and the company would need approval from McLean County and landowners that would be impacted before proceeding.

This farm news was published in the March 28, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.