Wind farm development in Illinois, elsewhere likely to slow in 2013

 

By Brian Leaf

BUSINESSROCKFORD.COM

 

• ROCKFORD — Wind power is the most visible form of electricity generation and only one state, California, made it more visible in 2011 than Illinois.

The Department of Energy said in a report last week that Illinois installed turbines capable of generating 692 megawatts wind power capacity, bringing the state’s capacity to 2,700 MW — enough to power about 680,000 homes. California led the nation with 921 MW of new capacity.

While the DOE expects 2012 to be another strong year for new wind energy, development of wind farms will dramatically slow in 2013. That’s because tax credits that provide wind energy producers 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour expire at the end of the year.

The tax credits have become part of an energy policy debate between Democratic President Barack Obama and his GOP challenger Mitt Romney, which makes the likelihood of an extension before the November election doubtful.

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