Wind Monitoring Program It is essential to measure wind velocity for at least one year in order to forecast how much electricity might be generated at a particular site. This essential information should be an early step in the evaluation process of wind turbines. The wind velocity data can be used to estimate the amount of electricity generated. Revenue from a turbine can then be forecasted if the sales price of electricity is known. Wind velocity equates to the “quantity of fuel” available for generating electricity in a wind turbine and it can have a high degree of variation over the course of a single day as well as over the seasons of the year. Geographic location plus local terrain and features will influence the wind quality, so it is necessary to measure the wind in the proximity of a proposed turbine installation. Western Illinois University and its Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs and Department of Geography are offering organizations and landowners throughout the state the opportunity to assess the wind at a site under consideration for wind power. This program is made possible through a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation. A limited number of sites will be selected each year to undergo monitoring of wind velocity. Sites will be selected from applicants interested in erecting wind turbines (small scale or utility scale). It involves the temporary installation of a 50-meter (165 feet) meteorological tower on or near a site that could eventually be used for a wind turbine. A crew would install the tower and each month during the year the landowner or other responsible party will remove a data plug at the base of the tower and mail it to the university and insert a new plug used to record data for the next month. At the end of one year (12 to 14 months) a crew will then remove the tower and move to a new round of locations. All data will be public domain. Requirements An interest in installing a wind turbine (small scale or utility scale) Open land free of trees and shrubs Easy property access for installation and later removal with a site of approximately 1.5 acres (250 feet x 250 feet) for the tower Applicant's responsibility includes: Providing proof of land ownership and permission to temporarily install a met tower Obtaining permits (if any are required) Changing data plugs (cards) once per month

Illinois Wind Phone: 800/526-9943 Fax: 309/298-2142 E-mail: JM-Nemeth@wiu.edu The information provided at this website including but not limited to maps, data, links, and other printed material is provided without warranty or any representation of accuracy, adequacy, timeliness, and/or completeness. The burden for determining accuracy, adequacy, completeness, timeliness, and fitness for or the appropriateness for use, rests solely on the user accessing this information. The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs and the Western Illinois University GIS Center make no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the use of the maps and data available for access at this website. The data, maps, and other information contained herein may be modified at any time to reflect additions to, deletions from, or other changes without public notice. No liability is assumed for the accuracy of any data, map, and other information either expressed or implied.