Dominion Generation have announced a major new wind power project that is planned for Christian and Montgomery Counties in Central Illinois. The Prairie Fork Wind Farm will have a capacity of 300MW coming from 150 – 200 wind turbines. The project is to be constructed over 25,000 acres of land.

The Prairie Fork Wind Farm is pending all of the necessary environmental permits and approvals, as well as being subject to local community support. In terms of the local community, the project will bring hundreds of construction job opportunities to the region plus 15 to 20 full time maintenance positions once the project is built. The local landowneers, on whose land the tubines will be erected will also receive a steady income each year.

Dominion Generation president and CEO Mark F. McGettrick has been quoted as saying:

“Dominion is aggressively pursuing opportunities to add to its growing portfolio of emissions-free, renewable generation. We recognize that clean energy sources such as wind power are important in meeting our nation’s energy needs and in attaining a balanced, diverse energy portfolio. Diversity offers the most viable approach to greater energy security and stable energy prices. Prairie Fork Wind Farm represents another important step forward in our long-term strategy”

Should the approval be granted, Dominion hopes to begin construction some time in 2010 with the project expected to be on-grid by 2011.