Rail Splitter Wind Farm
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Rail Splitter Wind Farm is a 67-turbine wind farm in northern Logan County and southern Tazewell County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The wind farm is near the towns of Delavan, Hopedale, and Emden on a glacial moraine known as Union Ridge.
| Rail Splitter Wind Farm | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
| Country | USA |
| Location | Emden, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 40°18′0″N 89°24′0″W |
| Status | Active |
| Construction cost | $221 million |
| Operator | EDPR NA |
| Employees | 20 |
| Wind farm | |
| Type | Onshore |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 67 x 1.5 MW |
| Make and model | GE sle |
| Nameplate capacity |
|
| Storage capacity | 100.5 MW |
| External links | |
| Website | https://www.edpr.com/north-america/rail-splitter-wind-farm |
Operation
The turbines generate a maximum of 100.5 megawatts of electricity.[1] The wind farm is owned and operated by EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA), formerly Horizon Wind Energy.[2] The wind turbines that constitute the farm are centered on the town of Emden on both sides of Interstate 155. The wind farm, constructed in 2008–2009 at a cost of $200.0 million, was dedicated on July 21, 2009.[3][4]
Expansion
Rail Splitter II is a wind farm that will be located in Tazewell County, near the townships of Boynton, Hopedale, Hittle, and Little Mackinaw. The expansion will add capacity of 100 megawatts (MW) with 20-28 planned turbines. The model is expected to be determined in 2023.[5][6]
In June 2022, a group of Mackinaw farmers known as United Citizens of Tazewell County LLC presented a rewrite of the county ordinance for wind farms. If passed, this change would affect the turbines at Rail Splitter and the proposed Rail Splitter II.[7]
