Publications

• Harvest The Wind: A Wind Energy Handbook for Illinois
  • The purpose of this handbook is to inform the reader about wind as a resource for generating electricity, with emphasis on Illinois as a potential host for small-scale and large-scale projects. It addresses how to assess the value of wind, the wind energy options available for landowners and communities to consider, and sources of financial assistance. Case studies are included to illustrate what has been done to develop this resource in Illinois and neighboring states.
• Converting Wind Into Opportunity in Illinois
  • This report examines direct ownership of development opportunities by addressing the best practices and opportunities in Illinois. The focus is on rural stakeholders, specifically landowners and local governments who need assistance in properly assessing the viability of a project and how they can take advantage of the opportunity. A majority of wind energy development occurs through provate investment in multiple utility-scale turbines congregated in wind farms.

• Wind Projects and Resources 2013
• Contract with Wind Farm Developer Calls for Millions in Escrow
  • This article discusses the procedure an Illinois county is implementing as part of a wind development project to secure the funds estimated to be necessary for the repair and upgrade to roads that may be damaged as a result of road usage to complete the project. This will securitize any road improvements needed as a result of project development.

Wind Basics & Education

U.S. Department of Energy’s WINDExchange program offers resources for anyone wishing to learn about wind energy at any level. Learn about wind energy basics as well as workforce development initiatives, including the U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition, the Wind for Schools project, higher education and training programs, wind energy curricula, and tools such as the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Career Map.

Careers & Opportunities

Learn more about renewable energy careers and opportunities through job/internship boards, career guides, and company websites.

Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Average Wind Speeds in Illinois is a project of the State Climatologist Office for Illinois, Illinois State Water Survey.

Water & Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) program consists of four unique networks – the Illinois Climate Network (ICN) which collects weather and soil data, the Shallow Groundwater Wells Network which measures groundwater levels, the Sediment Monitoring Network which monitors the sediment levels in rivers and streams, and the Reservoir Observation Network.

Illinois Distributed Generation Wind Projects

Illinois Distributed Generation Wind Projects Database

Renewable Energy Mapping Systems

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory — Interactive Mapping Tools 
• US Department of Energy — The Bioenergy KDF
• Open Energy Information

Wind Incentives

Established in 1995, DSIRE is currently operated and funded by the N.C. Solar Center at N.C. State University, with support from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. DSIRE is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy. Visit DSIRE’s Illinois page for more inforamtion on incentives for Illinois.

Links

Clean Energy Training Directory from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council is a compiled list of workshops, hands-on training, curriculum and degree programs offered throughout the country. Start here to find training providers in the field of Renewable Energy and Efficiency.

Interested in finding a college like Western Illinois University, that offers Renewable Energy degrees? Browse the IREC Clean Energy Training Directory today to explore your options.

At NREL, we focus on creative answers to today’s energy challenges. From breakthroughs in fundamental science to new clean technologies to integrated energy systems that power our lives, NREL researchers are transforming the way the nation and the world use energy.

DWEA was formed specifically to support the needs of smaller-scale wind projects with a significant element of local ownership and electricity use. DWEA’s primary mission is to promote and foster all aspects of the American distributed wind energy industry.

Primary energy sources take many forms, including nuclear energy, fossil energy — like oil, coal and natural gas — and renewable sources like wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower. These primary sources are converted to electricity, a secondary energy source, which flows through power lines and other transmission infrastructure to your home and business

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.

Linked energy information on hundreds of topics crowdsourced from industry and government agencies.

Solar Resources

How to Choose a Qualified Solar Installer

21 Apr 2016 5:44 PM by Mike Nicolosi, Rethink Electric for Illinois Solar Energy Association

As more Americans are switching to sun powered energy for their home, the solar energy installation industry is growing to keep pace.  How are you supposed to differentiate the quality installer from the deceptive contractor? Although there is no sign of rampant abuse in the industry, a few bad apples can spoil bushel! The BBB only receives a few hundred complaints about solar in the US each year.  Which is a very small percentage of installers.  In every industry there will be contractors that do shoddy craftsmanship to get the work done faster and cheaper for a fatter bottom line. The most important tool homeowners can utilize to protect themselves is education.  As with any home improvement, the more you know about what is being done, the more you can watch for warning signs. 

Illinois Solar Energy Association

The Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA) is a non-profit organization that promotes the widespread application of solar and other forms of renewable energy through our mission of education and advocacy. ISEA is the state resource for renewable energy related policy  developments, educational classes, events and access to local renewable energy businesses.

Community Solar Deployment, by Solar Market Pathways

The Solar Market Pathways Toolkits have been created in response to the needs of solar program managers–both within the SMP program and beyond. Over the course of the three-year program, we anticipate creating 6-8 toolkits focused on key challenge areas. These toolkits are compilations of the best available resources as well as new resources developed by the SMP National Coordinator team and the SMP awardees themselves.

Each of these toolkits is a work in progress and we will add new resources over time.

Have a resource or an idea for a toolkit? Please email us at ndenering@iscvt.org