Progress Illinois

Yesterday, we highlighted a rare bit of good news for Illinois schools: Revenue from large-scale wind projects are providing relief to some downstate school districts who've been struggling to cope with unreliable state funding. For instance, by next year, the Colfax school district will net an additional $1.7 million in new revenue from Horizon Wind Energy's Twin Groves Wind Farm. For a rural district operating on an $8 million annual budget, that is money that will go a long way.

The economic power of the wind industry -- which is anticipated to invest $1.9 billion in Illinois over the next 25 years -- looks equally promising for the state as a whole, according to some new research out of Illinois State University.  Economist David Loomis of the school's Center for Renewable Energy examined the economic impact of Illinois' 17 major wind projects (and the 1,118.76 MW of energy they've generated).  He found that the farms have succeeded in generating sizable and sustainable revenues, including upwards of $11.4 million in new property taxes each year.

Meanwhile, the Pantagraph explains the direct benefit to workers and rural landowners:

[T]he projects generate ... $4.36 million per year in extra income for landowners leasing their land.

During their construction, wind projects in Illinois created 6,019 full-time construction jobs with a total payroll of more than $306 million. Now operational, they support 292 permanent jobs with a total annual payroll of more than $15 million, the study showed.

Encouragingly, a series of other major wind projects  are in the works. But if the Prairie State wants to maintain, let alone advance, its position as the 8th-largest wind-producing state, Loomis warns that elected officials, business, and academics are going to have to lay the framework:

In order for Illinois to take advantage of all the economic benefits from wind energy, more supply-chain manufacturing needs to be established in the state, which can definitely help revitalize Illinois’ manufacturing industry. More wind turbine technician training facilities are needed to prepare the workforce in Illinois. A longer-term property tax law needs to be established so that developers can have more certainty. Wind power development will contribute to preserving the environment and a more secure energy future in Illinois.

You can read the whole report here.