HERSCHER, Illinois. (Oct. 1, 2014): EDF Renewable Energy (EDF RE) and Microsoft Corporation today celebrated the launch of the Pilot Hill Wind Project with a groundbreaking ceremony. Located 60 miles southwest of Chicago in Kankakee and Iroquois counties, the 175 megawatt (MW) wind project is expected to begin commercial operation early in 2015. More than 100 people attended the ceremony including U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill. who called it a historic day for the state of Illinois and the nation.
“We’re not only breaking ground on an exciting, new wind energy facility, we’re leading the way to a clean energy economy,” said Kelly. “I applaud Microsoft and EDF Renewable Energy for investing in clean energy and standing on the forefront of positive change and social responsibility.”
The Project, consisting of GE 1.7 MW wind turbines, benefits from a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Microsoft. The PPA played a key role in advancing the Project by providing the long-term revenue certainty needed to get Pilot Hill off of the ground and into construction.