That's how many wind turbines are currently spinning in Illinois, according to a new article by the Sun-Times' Abdon Pallasch. The reporter talks to a wind power energy executive who said his company wouldn't currently be making investments in Illinois if the state hadn't implemented its Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard in 2007.  The General Assembly certainly deserves credit for that.

On the flip side, Pallasch notes that "lobbying from power companies and businesses" ended up stalling legislation to require that utilities procure renewable energy from Illinois sources before turning to neighboring states. That's a fight we've reported on before and one that won't end anytime soon.