NEWMAN, IL, (Dec. 4, 2019) – Wind turbine deliveries have begun at EDP Renewables’ (EDPR) Harvest Ridge Wind Farm, located in northeastern Douglas County. 

The Harvest Ridge Wind Farm will include 48 wind turbines, which will produce enough electricity to annually power approximately 70,000 average Illinois homes. The wind turbines, manufactured by Vestas, are comprised of several major components, including the nacelle, drivetrain, hub, tower sections, and three blades.

The turbine components will arrive by a combination of rail and barge and then be transported by truck to the project site, entering Douglas County via US-36 and IL-49. Crews recently completed upgrading the public roads to accommodate the construction activity and are continuing with other construction efforts including pouring turbine foundations, trenching underground electrical lines and building private roads to access each of the wind turbines. Construction crews will now proceed with installing the new turbine components.

“We are very excited to install state-of-the-art wind turbine technology in Douglas County,” stated Chris Brooks, Director of Project Management at EDP Renewables North America. “We appreciate the efforts of all the workers who have been laboring in declining temperatures to prepare the site for wind turbine delivery and installation.”

EDP Renewables owns and operates five wind farms in Illinois and more than 40 other wind farms across the United States. The Harvest Ridge Wind Farm will provide the community with significant economic benefits in the form of landowner payments and increased local spending. The project will also provide more than $50 million in tax revenues to Douglas County and taxing entities in the project area including the schools, townships, roads, fire districts and libraries over the first 30 years of the wind farm’s operations. The project will create up to 250 jobs during construction and 10 permanent jobs once operational. 

The Harvest Ridge Wind Farm is expected to produce electricity and be fully operational by early 2020. The construction process will continue into next spring and summer with restoration activities in order to return farmland and roads to the same or better condition. More information, including ongoing construction updates, can be found here.

About EDP Renewables North America

EDP Renewables North America LLC (“EDPR NA”) and its subsidiaries develop, construct, own, and operate wind farms and solar parks throughout North America. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with 49 wind farms, five solar parks, and 13 regional and development offices across North America, EDPR NA has developed more than 6,900 megawatts (MW) and operates more than 6,300 MW of renewable energy projects. EDPR NA is owned by EDP Renováveis, S.A. (EDPR).  For more information, visit www.edprnorthamerica.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Blair Matocha, Communications Manager
EDP Renewables North America
blair.matocha@edpr.com
(713) 356-2415