EDF Renewable Energy has started operating its 175-megawatt Pilot Hill wind project in Illinois.
The wind farm, located 60 miles southwest of Chicago in Kankakee and Iroquois counties, commenced construction of its 103 General Electric wind turbines in September 2014. The facility will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 60,000 homes, according to US Energy Information Administration. As a result, this project will prevent approximately 374,000 metric tons of new greenhouse gas emissions per year, the equivalent of the annual emissions from approximately 79,000 passenger vehicles.
The project has a 20-year power-purchase agreement with Microsoft Corp. to power 100% of the energy needs of Microsoft’s data centre in Illinois.
“EDF Renewable Energy is proud to partner with Microsoft to power its Illinois data centre with 100% renewable energy, through the Pilot Hill wind project,” said Ryan Pfaff, Executive Vice President of EDF Renewable Energy. “Corporate America is increasingly turning to renewable energy to power its business operations, based both on consumer preferences and because renewable energy simply makes good business sense from a cost standpoint. Technology companies like Microsoft have been leading the way in this regard, and many other industries are beginning to follow suit.”