K-4 WIND FARM EXPECTED TO DOUBLE IN SIZE
> KEMPTON – A wind-energy project that benefits Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee and Livingston counties is now expected the double in size. Vision Energy, the company planning to start construction next year, has decided to make the project about twice as big.
Vision Energy was planning a 307-turbine wind farm covering portions of northern Ford County, western Iroquois County, eastern Livingston County and southern Kankakee County, with a total generating capacity of around 400 megawatts. The company is planning to amend a special-use permit application in Livingston County in 2010 that, if approved by the county board, would add “several hundred more” turbines to the project, according to Vision Energy President Turner Hunt.
The original size of the wind farm was 400 megawatts, so now it’s probably going to be in the order of 750 megawatts. Plans are to expand in Livingston and also a little in Kankakee. Iroquois and Ford will remain the same.
Special-use permits have already been approved for the proposed K-4 Wind Farm in Ford, Iroquois and Kankakee counties. There are slated to be 96 turbines in Ford County, 47 in Iroquois County and 88 in Kankakee County. Originally, there were to be 76 in Livingston County.
