Frequently Asked Questions

When the wind blows past a wind turbine, its blades capture the wind’s energy and rotate, turning the wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical energy. Inside the wind turbine, this rotation turns an internal shaft connected to a gearbox, which then spins a generator that produces electricity. The wind turbine will rotate to face the strongest wind and will angle its blades to best capture the wind energy.¹

A typical modern turbine will start to generate electricity when wind speeds reach six to nine miles per hour (mph), known as the cut-in speed. Turbines will shut down if the wind is blowing too hard (roughly 55mph) to prevent equipment damage. Over the course of a year, modern turbines can generate usable amounts of electricity over 90% of the time. For example, if the wind at a turbine reaches the cut-in speed of six to nine mph, the turbine will start generating electricity. As wind speeds increase, so does electricity production.²

We will collect and analyze several years of wind data in the project area to confirm that the wind resource is excellent for wind project operations. Three meteorological towers measuring the wind resource have been installed since 2022 and we are planning to install a fourth in 2024.

Wind projects provide numerous benefits to the communities in which they are sited. Wind projects represent significant local investments and drive meaningful increases in the local taxable property base. Wind projects also provide guaranteed annual property tax payments to local taxing jurisdictions, which allow county and local officials to make long-term financial plans and increase spending on public services and other critically important infrastructure.

Wind projects pay millions of dollars per year directly to landowners through lease and easement agreements, resulting in a diversified revenue stream that protects against fluctuating commodity prices and preserves family properties for future generations. In addition, these projects directly create hundreds of full-time equivalent jobs during the construction and installation phases, support indirect and induced jobs during development and construction, and create long-term jobs to operate and maintain the projects day-to-day.

In the last decade, wind has delivered $140 billion of investment across the country, and in 2022 alone, wind projects delivered $2 billion in state and local tax payments and land-lease payments.³ In Illinois, the total wind energy investment to date is over $13.7 billion.⁴ More than $57 million state and local tax dollars are generated by these projects each year and more than $47 million annually goes to Illinois residents directly in the form of land lease payments.

The cost of wind has declined by 47% over the last decade, with improved technology and US-based manufacturing making it competitive with other energy sources and the cheapest source of new electricity in many parts of the country.

According to Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis – Version 17.0 (2024), even without tax credits, new wind resources have a levelized cost of energy in the range of 2.7 cents/kWh – 7.3 cents/kWh.⁵ Wind projects generate electricity at a lower cost per megawatt hour than would other possible fossil fuel and renewable energy options.⁶ These results have been bolstered by the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2023 which found, “Solar PV and wind are now the cheapest new sources of electricity in most markets.”⁷

Adding to their growing appeal, wind projects are uniquely able to sell their electricity output at a fixed price over the life of the project because the “fuel”, the wind, is free and not subject to increases in commodity fuel prices.⁸

Wind energy is the largest source of renewable electricity generation in the US, providing over 10% of the country’s electricity and growing.⁹ While wind is variable as a power resource, that does not mean that wind projects are backed up with a coal or gas plant should the wind stop blowing. The variability of wind can be predictably forecast and used to complement other generation sources. No electricity source runs 100 percent of the time, including coal, gas, and nuclear plants. Grid operators have decades of experience managing changes in supply and demand, and sudden, unexpected outages at large conventional power plants are more costly and difficult to manage than the gradual, predictable changes in wind output.¹⁰

Yes. A typical wind energy project using 2 MW wind turbines repays its carbon footprint in six months or less, providing decades of zero emissions energy that displaces the fossil fuel energy that was used to manufacture the turbines and construct the wind project.¹¹ As wind turbine technology continues to improve with longer lifetimes and larger nameplate capacities, the length of the energy payback period will continue to decrease. The wind turbines we anticipate using for the project are 4.5 MW, more than double the capacity of the turbines for which the cited lifecycle assessment was performed.

The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory reviewed all published research and concluded that wind energy’s carbon footprint is lower than nuclear and most other renewable energy resources.¹²

Millions of people around the world live and work close to operating wind turbines without any health or safety effects.¹³

According to a 2018 study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory,¹⁴ there are more than 1.3 million homes located within five miles of a utility-scale wind turbine. The study also found that 92 percent of survey respondents living within five miles of a wind turbine reported positive or neutral experiences and that 90 percent of survey respondents would prefer to live near a wind farm over any type of centralized power plant, whether coal, natural gas or nuclear.

No. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world live near and work in proximity to operating wind turbines with no negative health effects. Over 20 years of research into the impact of wind turbines on human health indicates that wind turbines do not pose a risk to people’s health.

University researchers, government scientists, and medical and public health authorities have published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific studies on health and living in proximity to wind turbines. These studies have investigated the wide range of purported negative health claims with respect to wind turbines including sound, low frequency noise and infrasound, shadow flicker, and electromagnetic field emissions (EMF). Independent health experts have conducted comprehensive reviews of the existing research and repeatedly conclude that wind turbines do not pose a threat to public health.¹⁵

Shadow flicker is predictable, harmless, and passes quickly. It is based on the sun’s angle, turbine location, and the distance to an observer. Shadow flicker occurs when rotating wind turbine blades pass in front of the sun and cast a shadow. Shadow flicker can be mitigated and minimized with proper planning and siting and cumulatively only occurs for a few hours a year. During cloudy days, shadow flicker does not occur. Further, there are industry standards that provide guidance on the recommended 12-month accrued shadow flicker duration to minimize any potential impacts. We design our turbine layouts in accordance with that guidance.

No, wind turbines are not disruptive to neighbors or harmful to human health. While wind turbines do produce some sound, the highest levels that are produced are comparable to sounds heard in everyday life. Wind turbines produce low frequency noise, which has been widely studied by academic institutions and government agencies. Low frequency sound is everywhere – it is emitted by ceiling fans, cars, weather, and even our own heartbeat.

Today’s wind turbines take advantage of decades of design, engineering, manufacturing, and operating experience to minimize sound from operations, and the Four Creeks Wind Project will be designed to comply with local and state laws including the Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB)’s stringent standards.

“Noise from wind turbines measured outside the residence, up to 46 decibels (or modeled up to 49 decibels using the new standard), poses no risk to human sleep. Not at this audible range, nor its associated low-frequency noise levels. At this threshold and lower, there is good evidence to support that there are no health risks from wind turbines,” – Dr. Jeffrey M. Ellenbogen, Director of the Sound Sleep Project and former Associate Professor in the US Department of Defense.

No. Cattle and other livestock are not affected by wind turbines, and ranchers have reported that cattle benefit from the shade turbines offer.¹⁶

Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are present everywhere in our environment, including TV antennae, radio signals, Wi-Fi, and common household appliances.¹⁷ EMF emissions from wind turbines are lower than those produced by common household electrical devices and are below any existing regulatory guidelines with respect to health.¹⁸

Several studies have assessed the correlation between proximity to high voltage direct current transmission lines and impacts on agricultural operations. According to an epidemiologic study of 500 herds of Holstein dairy cattle, herd health, measured using multiple indicators, did not differ between periods before and after a nearby +/- 400 kV direct current line was energized.¹⁹ Another study conducted by Oregon State University determined that no differences were found between cattle and crops raised under 500 kV direct current lines and those raised away from the lines.²⁰ These studied voltages are significantly greater than what will be used in the Four Creeks Wind Project.

No, wind turbines do not require water to produce electricity or cool power generating equipment, so the project will not have a negative impact on local water supplies. Most of the water needed for the project will be related to dust suppression control during construction, and it is anticipated that water will be purchased from a nearby water control district for that purpose. Furthermore, turbine foundations are only approximately 10-to-12 feet deep and do not impact the local water tables.

Wind energy projects, like all forms of development, can result in interactions with the natural environment. Wildlife and natural resources are an important consideration in our selection of project sites.

Furthermore, the wind energy industry is closely regulated by state and federal agencies to ensure any effects on wildlife are minimized and mitigated. Our dedicated environmental permitting team takes all necessary steps during the planning and siting stages to identify sensitive species such as bats and birds, high-risk locations, and mitigation efforts. We have been working collaboratively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state agencies such as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to determine the best siting for wind turbines to minimize any impact on wildlife.

Climate change remains the largest threat to wildlife. Wind power is far less harmful to wildlife than the traditional energy sources it displaces and is one of the most effective, fastest, cheapest solutions to reduce carbon pollution and the climate change it contributes to.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab noted that wind turbines cause less than 0.01 percent of all human-related bird deaths.²¹

No. Studies show no evidence of long-term impacts on property values from wind projects in rural areas.

• A 2010 analysis of 3,851 residential property transactions around a 240-turbine wind project in Illinois was performed over an eight-year period. The study found that while the market saw a dip in property values prior to project operations, property values rebounded and rose higher than they had been prior to the project’s regulatory approval.²²
• A 2022 peer-reviewed study found that beginning with the construction phase, wind energy projects led to economically meaningful increases in median home values, household income, and both county-level income and GDP per capita.²³

• A 2019 analysis of property value research by researchers at the University of California, Davis found that wind turbines do not negatively impact property values at any point during their installation, including post-announcement, during construction, and post-construction.
• A 2019 study of attitudes towards wind turbine neighbors conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that 92 percent of people living within five miles of a wind turbine reported positive or neutral experiences.²⁴
• A 2013 study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found no significant impact on the property values of the 50,000 homes researchers analyzed near 67 different wind facilities.²⁵

The wind industry is a driver of meaningful economic development, particularly in rural areas. Wind energy projects across the U.S. deliver an estimated $2 billion in state and local tax payments and land-lease payments each year. The industry employs nearly 126,000 Americans across all 50 states, including 24,000 wind manufacturing jobs at over 450 facilities.²⁶

We are committed to using an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) for the Four Creeks Wind project. The Federal Aviation Administration launched the standards for ADLS technology in late 2015, which is designed to reduce the impact of nighttime lights through the integration of a radar-based system. Unlike traditional wind turbine lighting systems, which remain constantly lit during nighttime hours, this technology activates the turbine lights only when low-flying aircraft are detected nearby, significantly reducing light pollution while maintaining airspace safety.

Capitol Airspace Group, an aviation consulting firm, performed an ADLS activation analysis for the project, and the results found the use of ADLS will reduce the amount of light by more than 93%. Here’s a summary:

• ADLS uses surveillance radar to detect when an aircraft enters and departs the Light Activation Area – a buffer zone around the project area. Once the aircraft leaves the buffer zone, the red lights turn off and ambient light levels resume.
• The buffer zone assessed by Capitol Airspace was measured at 3.55 nautical miles around the Four Creeks Wind project area and 3,500 ft above the highest wind turbine height.
• The report found that up to 21,269 aircraft flight paths from recent years (“tracks”) overlap with the buffer area. However, most of these tracks occur during daytime hours, with only approximately 2,966 tracks crossing the buffer area during nighttime hours.
• Out of approximately 4,678 nighttime hours per year, the report predicts that ADLS-controlled detection lights would be activated only 284 hours and 53 minutes per year (an average of less than 1 hour per day). This accounts for an over 93% reduction in activation of the flashing red safety lighting at night.

We are excited to incorporate ADLS into the design of our wind project to minimize the visual impact to the nighttime sky, while ensuring safety of local aviators and complying with FAA requirements.

As with any structure, wind turbine blades may accumulate ice under certain atmospheric conditions. The formation of ice can counteract the amount of power being produced, so having de-icing strategies in place is important to maximize a project’s potential.

The possibility of ice throw is considered during both project planning and operation. The proper siting of wind turbines through appropriate setbacks from roads, dwellings, and other structures mitigates from the risk of ice throw, and the Four Creeks Wind project is being designed to exceed all applicable setback distance regulations.

Modern wind turbines are also designed with ice detection systems to minimize the potential for ice throw. If ice accumulates on the blades, the turbine will slow down or shut off until the ice melts. Further, measures can be put in place to minimize the potential for ice to accumulate on the blades, including water-resistant coatings and internal heating systems.

Wind turbines are designed and tested to safely operate, including through extreme weather events. A study was done on wind turbine collapses, which evaluated the number of global turbine failures between 2000 and 2016. The study found that in that 16-year timeframe, there were 48 incidents of wind turbines collapsing around the world, one half of which were caused by typhoons (e.g., extreme wind scenarios).²⁷ The Four Creeks Wind Project is sited in an area with consistent and balanced wind speeds.

We procure wind turbines from Tier 1 manufacturers that adhere to the highest quality standards, regularly deploy Operations and Maintenance staff to ensure site safety and peak performance, and monitor the project 24/7 to track performance and proactively detect any issues.

Wind turbines do not cause lightning strikes. Lightning is a result of electrical energy in the atmosphere, a phenomenon that occurs everywhere. Every turbine will be installed with appropriate grounding to ensure that in the event of a lightning strike, the surge of electricity will be safely discharged into the ground. From a fire safety perspective, it is safer for lightning to strike a grounded structure, such as a turbine and its vegetation-free turbine pad, than it is to strike vegetation in the area.

We procure wind turbines from Tier 1 manufacturers that adhere to the highest quality standards, regularly deploy Operations and Maintenance staff to ensure site safety and peak performance and monitor the project 24/7 to track performance and proactively detect any issues.

Only approximately 2% of a wind project area is occupied by project infrastructure, leaving the remaining 98% available for current land use. Landowners and tenants can continue to farm or ranch their properties right up to the base of the turbine while diversifying their revenue stream to better weather economic downturns and preserve family property for future generations.

We are considering a few different turbine models for the project, with heights around 650 feet from the ground to the tallest point of the blade’s tip. Each turbine will have a capacity of 4.5-6.0 megawatts, depending on the technology chosen. These turbines have been installed across the United States and are the common height of modern wind projects.

The turbine models under consideration are taller than existing wind projects in Central Illinois, especially those installed 10-20 yrs ago. However, the planned height is not new to the region or industry. Further, modern turbines offer advantages compared to older turbines. The taller turbines produce more energy, so fewer turbines are needed. Taller turbines are also sited further away from structures, roads, environmental features, etc., since the applicable setback distances are a function of their height.

We have taken a proactive approach to environmental affairs while developing the Four Creeks Wind Project, and we will continue to identify potential environmental impacts that may occur so we can avoid, minimize, and mitigate them to the greatest extent practicable.

Like all infrastructure development, some potential exists for impacts to occur to protected species. A Site Characterization Study, two years of avian use point count surveys, and two years of raptor nest surveys have been conducted by a third-party environmental consultant and wildlife specialists to address potential risk to eagles, and the project is not expected to have a significant impact on the local raptor population. We are sharing all study results with state and federal agencies to help inform the next steps for project development and permitting and to ensure the project is compliant with all applicable state and federal regulations.

We are committed to implementing several Best Management Practices to minimize risks to eagles during the operational life of the project, including but not limited to conducting post-construction monitoring studies.

Technological advances in wind turbine technology over several decades have resulted in taller towers, longer blades and improved efficiencies. While the underlying technology remains the same, these taller turbines and longer blades now allow for an exponential increase in output with fewer turbines, which decreases the footprint of wind projects. We are considering a few different turbine models for the project, with heights around 650 feet from the ground to the tallest point of the blade’s tip. Each turbine will have a capacity of 4.5-6.0 megawatts (MW), depending on the technology chosen.

Across the country today, there are 54 wind projects (2,578 turbines) of a similar or greater height to the ones we have proposed in Peoria County, and there are 10 operating wind projects in Illinois with turbine heights greater than ~600 ft. For example, there are operating wind turbines nearby in Henry County that stand 591 feet and Mason County that stand 640 feet.

The tallest onshore wind projects in the US are upwards of 692 feet. Over the next several years, the turbines that will be installed at other wind projects across the state and country will be the same or similar height as the turbines used for Four Creeks Wind.

When a landowner signs a Wind Lease, that individual gives Four Creeks Wind the exclusive right to produce wind energy on the property by installing wind turbines, collection lines, and/or access roads. The Four Creeks Wind lease does not prohibit landowners from constructing new structures, having farm or hunting leases, or otherwise exercising their private property rights. The only other right that is restricted is entering into a competing solar lease (not precluding your own solar energy system) since this would create a conflicting interest. The ownership of the land is not impacted.

A Neighbor Agreement on the other hand, is a short form agreement that gives the developer zero rights to access or construct infrastructure on a landowner’s property. While there are limited waivers included in these agreements, they are primarily intended to provide direct financial benefits to as many families as possible. Regardless of participation, under no circumstance will a turbine be constructed within at least 1,500 feet of a residence.

Wind turbine foundations are typically 80-90 feet in diameter and their installation depth averages 10-15 feet below ground level. The total size of each foundation used for the Four Creeks Wind Project will be approximately 1,100 cubic yards.

However, each turbine foundation will be less than 60 feet in diameter above ground, including a gravel access ring road around the turbine, totaling less than 0.10 acres per turbine. Wind turbines leave the majority (98% or more) of the leased land available for current use. Below is a typical foundation design and the footprint of a completed turbine:

The project will be designed and constructed to have an expected minimum useful life of 30 years and an operational life of up to 40 years. Our wind energy lease and easement agreements with landowners are for up to a 40-year operations period.

Our lease agreement states that the company is responsible for the decommissioning and removal of project infrastructure at the end of each project’s life. Standard decommissioning practices include dismantling and repurposing, salvaging/recycling/disposing of wind turbine components, and restoration.

Additionally, we will include a decommissioning and restoration plan with our permit application, which outlines the various ways in which we will safely and responsibly remove installed equipment and restore the property within the project area. In addition, we are committed to putting financial security in place with Peoria County to ensure host communities and landowners bear no financial responsibility for decommissioning or restoration at the end of the project’s life. We are committed to high decommissioning standards and proper financial security through the Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement will we sign with the Illinois Department of Agriculture.²⁸

Yes. Today 90% of a wind turbine is recyclable, and the industry has made great strides towards recycling options for the fiberglass blades as well, which will continue to increase the percentage of recyclable material.²⁹

An important benefit of wind power is that it provides a long-term hedge against increasing energy prices because it does not consume any fuel and allows power providers to purchase energy at stable, long-term rates. This may help to decrease future increases in electricity prices.