Economic Impact of Wind Power in Illinois

Wind energy is a bright spot in a struggling economy. Wind farms represent new sources of economic development all over Illinois, and communities across the state are already benefitting from wind energy.

Rural communities often see the greatest benefit from wind development in the form of landowner payments, property taxes and locally-sourced components and labor. Wind developers also often rely heavily on local sources for concrete, sand, rebar, aggregate and other construction supplies.

According to an analysis by the Center for Renewable Energy at Illinois State University, the first 2,422 megawatts of wind capacity in Illinois:

• Will generate a total economic benefit of $4.16 billion over the life of the projects
• Supports local economies by generating $22.2 million in annual property taxes
• Generates $10.23 million annually in extra income for Illinois landowners who lease their land to wind farm developers
• Created approximately 13,323 full-time equivalent jobs during construction periods with a total payroll of over $762 million
• Supports approximately 598 permanent jobs in rural Illinois areas with a total annual payroll of over $35 million

The ISU study uses real-world data from operating wind farms in Illinois, not projected numbers. Researchers then used the Department of Energy's JEDI Model (Jobs & Economic Development) to quantify the full impact of wind development in Illinois.