SPRINGFIELD -- A plan requiring utility companies to use more wind power and other renewable energy sources would generate 7,800 jobs and $7 billion in economic benefits through 2012, according to a study by the University of Illinois at Chicago.Pretty cool stuff. Wind power really seems to be taking off as an alternative energy source. I had the opportunity to see a huge wind farm in northern Iowa a couple of years while traveling though the area. It was very impressive to see. I'm glad there may be one coming to Illinois.
The renewable energy standards, an initiative of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, mandate power companies to generate 2 percent of electricity from renewable resources by the end of next year, with the rate climbing to 8 percent in 2012. Wind power must account for 75 percent of the renewable energy.
A Texas-based wind energy company is awaiting approval to build the world's largest wind farm near Arrowsmith. The proposed 267-turbine farm, the world's largest in terms of energy produced, is up for a public hearing at the McLean County Zoning Board's July 5 meeting.
The study also found that the governor's plan would result in 1,800 jobs directly in renewable energy and would increase household and business income in Illinois by about $1.8 billion.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Little Wind Farm on the Prarie
Chicago may have to turn over the title of Windy City to the Central Illinois town of Arrowsmith (east of Bloomington):
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3 comments:
And thank you for supporting Texas industries, the state some people love to hate...
;)
Does Texas have wind farms? Seems like you all have enough room (and I won't make the obvious hot air joke).
We do have them. Here's a few.
We have space for many more. West Texas is a great spot for them. Thousands of square miles of flat nothinginess (agriculture and oil). But the trick is finding areas that don't mind the "eyesore" properties of windmills but that also have steady wind year round.
I'm sure we have room for a lot more, too.
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