Livingston Wind Project to Invest $378 Million and Add Hundreds of Jobs to Local Economy

CULLOM, Ill. (Jan. 13, 2022) – According to an economic study, the Livingston Wind project would represent an investment of up to $378 million and generate hundreds of new construction jobs in Livingston County. Construction is expected to begin in 2023 or 2024, with the facility operational by the end of 2025.

The study, conducted by Dr. David G. Loomis, Professor of Economics at Illinois State University and Co-Founder of the Center for Renewable Energy, concluded that once completed and in operation, the Livingston Wind project would generate more than $104 million in property taxes over the life of the project. According to Dr. Loomis, “This study found that the Livingston Wind project will bring a significant influx of economic activity into Livingston County. The effects of this project, including new jobs, increased earnings, and property tax revenue will reverberate throughout many different industries, resulting in a positive net impact for the residents of the county and state.”

The study shows that the project would create short and long-term benefits in Livingston County through new jobs, income and tax revenue, construction spending, and long-term operations and maintenance activities. The proposed Livingston Wind project is located on leased land primarily in Broughton and Sullivan Townships, with additional leased land extending into eastern Union and southern Round Grove Townships. The wind turbines and project facilities would occupy less than 2% of this land, allowing area farms to diversify their revenue streams while continuing farming practices. The project is estimated to generate enough power for more than113,000 homes¹ thereby contributing to the region’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.

New jobs and income. The study estimates the project would create up to 414 new jobs and generate $23.3 million in new local earnings during the construction period. EDF Renewables and its affiliates operate two wind farms in Illinois – the Kelly Creek and Pilot Hill wind farms in Ford, Iroquois and Kankakee Counties. To date these projects have paid over $15 million in landowner payments, with an additional $68 million to be delivered in the future. The construction and operation of the Livingston Wind project will similarly spur economic activity in Central Illinois. The resulting boost in local household income will create benefits to other sectors such as retail and services. Neighboring areas will benefit as well. The study estimates $85 million in new earnings during construction across the State.

Once in operation, the study found that the Livingston Wind project would generate $1.4 million in new long-term earnings for Livingston County annually, in addition to supporting up to 33 new long-term jobs.

New tax revenues. In addition to new jobs and income, the study found Livingston Wind would be a significant source of new tax revenue for the county. The project would generate estimated property tax revenues of more than $104 million over the life of the project, going directly to Livingston County, Broughton, Sullivan, Union and Round Grove townships, and local school and fire districts. This includes over $66 million in tax revenue to area school districts over the life of the project. According to American Clean Power, renewable energy projects in Illinois generated nearly $70 million in state and local tax revenue in 2020 – crucial funds that are used to support schools, improve roads and bridges, and fund emergency services.

Livingston Wind is being developed by Livingston Wind Project, LLC, an affiliate of EDF Renewables, Inc. EDF Renewables is a leading independent power producer and service provider with 35 years of expertise. The Company delivers grid-scale wind, solar, and storage projects along with distribution-scale projects, and onsite solutions for commercial and industrial customers. EDF Renewables’ North America portfolio consists of 20 gigawatts (GW) of developed projects and 13 GW under service contracts. EDF Renewables owns and operates several other wind projects in the area.

¹ According to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2020 Residential Average Monthly Bill by Census Division and State.

# # #

CONTACT:
Sandi Briner, +1 858-521-3525
MediaRelations@edf-re.com

EDF Renewables North America is a market leading independent power producer and service provider with 35 years of expertise in renewable energy. The Company delivers grid-scale power: wind (onshore and offshore), solar photovoltaic, and storage projects; distribution-scale power: solar and storage; asset optimization: technical, operational, and commercial expertise to maximize performance of generating projects, and onsite solutions, through the Company’s PowerFlex subsidiary, offering a full suite of onsite energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers: solar, storage, EV charging, energy management systems, and microgrids. EDF Renewables’ North American portfolio consists of 20 GW of developed projects and 13 GW under service contracts. EDF Renewables North America is a subsidiary of EDF Renewables, the dedicated renewable energy affiliate of the EDF Group. For more information visit: www.edf-re.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Back to Archives