PROSPERITY WIND PROJECT PROFILE
Apex Clean Energy will be actively meeting with landowners, community leaders, and the public to share information about Prosperity Wind as the project progresses. We are excited to be a part of your community.
Many of the details about the proposed Prosperity Wind project are yet to be determined. For example, it's far too early to tell which turbines we will use, exactly how many there will be, or where these turbines will be located. However, as we continue to develop this project, more of these details will be determined, and we will share project updates with you here on this site.
PROJECT SUMMARY
- Planned to be located on approximately 20,000 acres of open farmland in rural Piatt County
- Capable of producing 300 MW of clean, homegrown energy, enough to power 99,000 U.S. homes each year
- Expected to consist up to 50 wind turbines, spaced approximately 1/4 to 1/2 mile apart on active farmland
- Each wind turbine, including the access road, typically requires less than half an acre of land
- Farmers would continue farming their land with very limited disturbance
- Will represent a significant investment in local economy with revenues for farmers, local government, and schools
- Will create over 200 full-time-equivalent jobs during construction
- Will create up to 12 permanent jobs at a local operations and maintenance facility
WHY PIATT COUNTY?
If built, Prosperity Wind will have a capacity of 300 MW, producing enough energy to power 99,000 homes every year. Representing a private investment of nearly $500 million, Prosperity Wind will benefit the economy of Piatt County in the near term with construction jobs and local purchasing of materials and services. In the long term, the project promises to bring sustained tax revenue to the county for the local government as well as 30 years of local purchasing, employment, and investment.
Rural Piatt County was selected by Apex Clean Energy after a thorough examination of many candidate sites within Illinois for the following reasons:
- Verified wind resource
- Expansive commercial farmland
- Existing network of state highways
- Avoids sensitive military and environmental areas
- Strong local landowner and community support
Farmers who host turbines on their property and other participating landowners will also receive annual lease payments. These payments will continue over the projected 30-year lifespan of the wind farm, injecting millions of dollars into the economy of Piatt County to support local merchants, contractors, and equipment suppliers.
WIND ENERGY FOR RURAL AMERICA
The cost of wind energy has dropped more than 50% over the past five years, providing a cost-competitive source for clean electricity across the nation. Now, a new study confirms wind energy is at the point where it's cheaper than coal, even without subsidies.* Wind powers the equivalent of 18 million American homes each year.** Wind energy comes with many benefits, including reduced pollution, increased domestic employment, consumer cost savings, water conservation, nationwide availability, and increased community revenues.*** Wind turbines complement working farms, because they allow for existing agricultural operations to continue around them. They also help farmers by diversifying the rural economy and providing a consistent, drought-resistant new harvest.
POTENTIAL TIMELINE
There are many steps in the process to completion of Prosperity Wind, including the County Board special use permit application process. This means construction is unlikely before 2024. Apex will be working closely with Piatt County on the project planning and permitting, offering additional opportunities for the public to provide input into the process.
*Minnesota Public Radio, Study: Renewable energy now Minnesota's 2nd-largest electricity source, March 2018
**AWEA, Wind Energy Facts at a Glance, March 2015
***Department of Energy, Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States, 2015