Meet Midland Wind, a 106-MW wind farm in Illinois that’s ready to power up 37,000 homes with a side of employment. The Midland Wind project is Avangrid’s fourth renewable energy project in the state, crowning Illinois the Midwest queen of clean power. And it’s also about giving back to the community, with $25 million in property taxes doing a cha-cha slide right into public services.
Avangrid, part of the global Iberdrola Group, has kick-started its Midland Wind project. Located in Henry County, this 106-MW wind farm is their fourth green energy endeavor in Illinois, boosting their total capacity to a whopping 600 MW.
“Midland Wind is rolling out the red carpet for clean energy, and we’re excited about it,” beams Pedro Azagra, Avangrid’s CEO. “Our fourth renewable energy project in Illinois, it shows we’re all in for a cleaner future. And we can’t wait to keep finding ways to power Illinois with more green energy.”
Midland Wind’s 25 turbines are all about that renewable energy life, churning out almost 400,000 MWh. That’s enough clean juice to power the equivalent of 37,000 homes. The wind farm officially got down to business in December 2023.
Not just environment-friendly, Midland Wind is also people-friendly. It created over 200 jobs during its construction phase, the majority being locals. Even the ongoing operations and maintenance tasks support a number of permanent local jobs. Plus, the wind farm is expected to contribute over $25 million in property taxes, helping fund schools, fire districts, and libraries.
With Midland Wind revving up, Illinois now boasts the largest renewable energy capacity among Midwest states in Avangrid’s portfolio. It’s nestled near three other Avangrid renewable energy projects: Providence Heights Wind, Otter Creek Wind, and Streator Cayuga Ridge South. This puts Avangrid solidly in the top three renewable energy operators in the U.S., with over 8.6 GW of installed capacity.
Original Story at www.windpowerengineering.com
