Wind Energy in Illinois
Find wind data and information in Illinois, including maps, capacity, ordinances, and more in these areas:
Capacity & Generation
Installed Capacity 7,665 MW Source: American Clean Power Association
MW Under Construction 806 MW Source: American Clean Power Association
Based on EIA data from 2022
U.S. Wind Turbine Database
The United States Wind Turbine Database (USWTDB) provides the locations of land-based and offshore wind turbines in the United States, corresponding wind project information, and turbine technical specifications. The creation of this database was jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office via the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Electricity Markets and Policy Group, the U.S. Geological Survey Energy Resources Program, and the American Wind Energy Association.
Wind Education & Training
Career training and projects at schools in Illinois.
Training Locations
Illinois Institute of Technology (Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research)
Danville Area Community College
Heartland Community College
DeVry University
Elgin Community College
Illinois State University
Illinois Valley Community College
Kankakee Community College
Lake Land College
College of Lake County
Wind for Schools Project Locations
There are no Wind for Schools projects in Illinois.
Policies & Incentives
62 local wind energy ordinances
Illinois Incentives
View current Illinois renewable energy incentives on the DSIRE website.
Renewable Portfolio Standard
IL Cities with 100% Renewable Energy Commitments
- Evanston - 2030
WETO R&D Projects
To view a list of wind research and development projects in Illinois funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, visit the Wind R&D Projects Map and select Illinois from the dropdown menu.
Wind Turbine Component Manufacturers
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Wind Prospector tool is a web-based Geographical Information System that supports resource assessment and data exploration for wind development. Wind Prospector includes a data layer dedicated to the locations of U.S. wind turbine and component manufacturing and supply chain facilities. Corporate headquarters, service facilities, material suppliers, R&D and logistics centers, and smaller component manufacturers (e.g., bolt manufacturers) are not included. The list of facilities included is not intended to be exhaustive.
Illinois Offices & Organizations
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory offers the following wind research facilities to meet industry needs:
- -The Leadership Computing Facility, available to any researcher in the world with a large-scale computing problem. The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility supports the advancement of wind predictions by increasing model resolution and improving physical representations from complex terrains
- -Wind resource instrumentation housed at Argonne's atmospheric observatory, including a meteorological tower, multiple custom sodar systems, and the Radar Wind Profiler
- -The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains Site, spanning approximately 9,000 square miles in north-central Oklahoma and southern Kansas and providing access to meteorological instrumentation for wind forecasting and plant optimization
- -The Tribology Laboratory, providing accelerated testing of wind turbine materials that experience surface damage
- -The Advanced Photon Source Technical Facility, allowing a better understanding of component failure.
Clean Energy Group
Clean Energy Group is a leading national, nonprofit organization working on innovative policy, technology, and finance programs in the areas of clean energy and climate change. The group's projects concentrate on climate and clean energy issues at the state, national, and international levels and include stakeholders from governments and the private and nonprofit sectors. Clean Energy Group assists states to create and implement innovative practices and public funding programs for clean energy project deployment; creates networks of U.S. and international policy makers to address climate stabilization strategies; and advances effective distributed innovation theories, finance, and commercialization tools for new climate technologies.
Clean Grid Alliance (formerly Wind on the Wires)
Clean Grid Alliance is a non-profit organization whose 40-plus members include wind and solar developers and manufacturers; non-profit environmental, public interest, and clean energy organizations; tribal representatives; farmer organizations; and other businesses that support renewable energy in the Midwest.
Environmental Law and Policy Center
The Environmental Law and Policy Center works with colleagues throughout the region to create new jobs and spur economic growth with wind power. The group's work includes expert policy analysis and testimony, as well as coordination with clean tech innovators, manufacturers, developers, and policymakers to identify new opportunities for wind power.
Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
This website provides Illinois residents with information about wind energy project zoning.
Midwest Renewable Energy Association
The Midwest Renewable Energy Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides renewable energy education and demonstrations, including training programs for small wind systems and renewable energy certification programs. The group also organizes The Energy Fair, an annual event in Custer, Wisconsin.
