Governor Rod R. Blagojevich has announced $2.2 million in funding to Horizon Wind Energy, LLC for the construction of a 198MW wind project in eastern McLean County, Illinois, USA.
The facility is the first phase of a planned 400MW wind farm. The project will create an estimated 250 construction jobs and up to 40 permanent jobs. The grant is being provided through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Renewable Energy Resource Program. The company recently broke ground on phase one of the project in July and expects to start producing power and begin work on phase two by April 2007. The projected total cost of the wind farm is estimated at US$700 million, with projected annual county tax revenue estimated at US$1.2 million and annual farmer income generated at US$1.2 million as well.