Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed tough new wind energy restrictions have prompted the Illinois Wind Energy Association to invite wind power developers to “Escape to Illinois.”
Illinois is already outpacing Wisconsin in wind energy development, having an installed wind capacity of 2,146 megawatts compared to the 469-megawatt capacity in Wisconsin, according to American Wind Energy Association statistics. Walker’s “counter-intuitive” policy will cause this gap to grow, IWEA Exec. Dir. Kevin Borgia said.
The Business Journal reports:
Borgia said the property tax base created by wind farms has proven critical to rural Illinois communities with low property values, providing much-needed funds for schools, roads and other public commodities...
Wind developments have provided $18 million in annual property taxes and generated $8.3 million annually extra income for Illinois landowners leasing their land to farm developers, according to a recent Illinois State University study. Furthermore, the projects support about 500 permanent jobs and a payroll of more than $25 million.