EDF Renewable Energy (EDF RE), a developer and subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles, says that the 184 MW Kelly Creek Wind Project in Illinois has reached commercial operation.
EDF RE says the project is located 60 miles southwest of Chicago in Ford and Kankakee counties and features 92 Vestas V100 wind turbines. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the facility will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 78,000 average Illinois homes.
The project will sell electricity into the PJM wholesale market on a merchant basis, the developer adds.
Ryan Pfaff, executive vice president for development at EDF RE, says that Kelly Creek will have a positive economic impact through the use of wind turbine towers, blades and nacelles manufactured at Vestas’ Colorado facilities; the creation of approximately 100 construction jobs and 10 long-term, full-time operations jobs; long-term lease payments to landowners; and recurring tax payments to local municipalities.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, wind-supported jobs grew by 20% in 2015 alone. There are now 88,000 overall positions spread across all 50 states and 380,000 jobs predicted by 2030.
