While some people may see wind mills as an eye sore, I find an odd beauty in them. 

Wind mills play a major role in clean energy in the state of Illinois. Being in Bloomington-Normal, it is not uncommon to see wind mills. 

And it’s no coincidence that Bloomington-Normal is a hub for wind power. In fact, there is a bit of history that comes along with it. Central Illinois is the perfect location for wind farms because there are prominent moraines in our area. 

That is likely an unfamiliar word to many. A moraine is a mass of rocks and sediment carried down and deposited by a glacier, typically as ridges at its edges. 

Moraines make for the perfect landscape for wind farms and Illinois has seen a lot of benefits from the growth of wind energy. 

A U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market report from the American Wind Energy Association shows that Illinois continued its trajectory as a growing national leader in new investment from the wind energy sector. 

The report shows Illinois businesses, consumers, farmers and local communities are benefitting from advancements in wind energy. Some of those benefits include creating thousands of new jobs, adding $1 billion in new investment in 2019 and millions in tax revenue and land lease payments. All of this providing a boost to communities and farmers. 

Illinois was actually ranked number three in the country for wind employment. 

Although people may see windmills as a pain because of the noise and red flashing lights, the benefits are clear through the numbers. 

Looking at it on a national scale, expanded innovation and development meant wind reached new heights in 2019 becoming America’s top choice for new power after building 9.1 gigawatts, or 39 percent of new utility-scale power additions, according to AWEA. 

With these additions, AWEA reports that operating wind power capacity in the U.S. now stands at over 105 gigawatts which equals enough to power 32 million American homes. 

So the next time you drive past a wind farm, consider how clean energy may be impacting your daily life.