The Pilot Hill Wind Project is under construction and 103 turbines are nearly ready to produce electricity. The 187 megawatt wind farm, near Herscher, will feed the grid at the Commonwealth Edison sub-station in Kankakee.

Pilot Hill is within a month of becoming operational. The 103 turbines cover a 12-mile stretch south of Herscher.

A 10-person work crew will be involved in the operation.

Electricity from the wind farm is being purchased by Microsoft Corporation, which has a 20-year power purchase agreement with EDF Renewable Services.

EDF owns the wind farm property, acquired from the original developers Vision Energy and then Orion Energy.

It was Vision Energy, back in 2007, who first proposed the development. Back then, 300 turbines were planned for a 64-square mile area of four counties – Kankakee, Iroquois, Ford and Livingston. Pilot Hill's footprint today only includes Kankakee and Iroquois.

Another 30 turbines in Norton Township are in the planning stage. They would be part of Kelly Creek Wind Farm, covering northern Ford County.

94.1 WGFA