Wind Energy Plant Coming To McLean County

Big changes are on the horizon for rural McLean-County, and officials say it has them energized. Tuesday morning the McLean County Board approved final applications for the new Bright Stalk wind farm.

The more than 37,000 acre wind power plant will cover parts of Lexington, Lawndale, Chenoa and Yates Townships. Board members say it stands to bring in hundreds of construction and permanent jobs.

They add it will generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue for the county over the next several years. Construction on the Bright Stalk wind farm is set to begin in December.

More than three years later, proposed projects could increase the number of wind turbines planted among area corn and soybean fields from 705 to more than 2,772 in five years, according to data from Illinois State University’s Center for Renewable Energy.

By Maggie Vespa, www.centralillinoisnewscenter.com