By Joyce Blumenshine

Your Support is Needed!

The Four Creeks utility scale wind farm project has been filed to Peoria County Zoning. Your presence at the hearings is needed! The sessions will be at the Holiday Inn & Suites, Peoria, 7601 North Orange Prairie Rd., near the Grand Prairie Shopping Center, beginning on Monday, September 14th, at 9 a.m.  It is expected expert testimony both for and against the project will be presented and then there will be public comments in general. The Four Creeks Project plans to install about 113 wind turbines with the potential to generate up to 663 megawatts (MW) of wind energy in the area. This energy can supply about 160,000 homes with electric energy. The Edwards coal-fired power plant that was closed south of Bartonville typically generated 780 megawatts at its top production which included decades of particulates air pollution and millions of tons of toxic coal ash and other byproducts from burning the coal. The full Four Creeks application, extended documentation, expert reports, and other files are available on the Peoria County website.

The Four Creeks website lists taxes the wind project will pay, construction jobs and many other statistics. Benefits of the Four Creeks over the life of the project include:

• $199 million to Princeville, Stark County, and Brimfield schools
• $44.8 million in property tax revenues to Peoria County that fund our county government, emergency services animal shelter, Illinois Central College, the Greater Peoria Airport and many other public services
• Over $71.1 million in tax revenues going to local public entities such as libraries, local fire districts, and township roads

Tens of millions of dollars will go to the property owners who will be paid an escalating amount annually. This income can be relied on to keep farms funded with variable crop prices, losses of foreign markets due to tariffs, high costs for fuel and other costs of crop production.

The taller wind turbines planned by Four Creeks have multiple advantages, including capture of stronger, more consistent winds typically at that height. These turbines greatly increase power generation while reducing the number of individual units needed per project. Taller wind turbines also reduce the noise levels that can be heard at ground level. More resources on utility scale wind energy benefits are at the U.S. Department of Energy website.

The zoning legal notice states that “At the public hearing all persons may cross examine witnesses, and provide testimony or documents pertaining to the subject to the rules of procedure.” The meetings are scheduled for September 14, 15, 16, 28, 29, 30, and October 1 if needed. Written comments, reports and other information can be submitted. A large group of opponents formed in 2024, stated concerns such as turbine noise, loss of property values, claims that the turbines are unsightly, and other issues. Their website refers to National Wind Watch sources among others. The hearings are expected to end about 3:30 p.m. each day.