Illinois Wind Power Facts

Illinois is currently ranked 4^th in the nation for installed wind power.  Even though the state’s first wind farm wasn’t constructed until 2003, today Illinois is home to over 2,700 megawatts of wind generation capacity ­– enough to power 750,000 homes with clean, affordable, and emissions-free electricity.

Current data show that there are more than 16,000 MW of new wind projects in various stages of planning in Illinois. The state will likely see 5,000-10,000 MW of installed wind capacity in the coming decades. These projects will provide thousands of new jobs, tax revenues, payments to farmers and other forms of economic growth. The Land of Lincoln now has 30 manufacturing facilities making wind components, making the state a major industry hub, with more than 6,000 jobs in wind. 

Illinois' strengths stem from our strong wind resources, robust transmission, and forward-thinking public policy.