About Goldrush Apple Wind
Apex Clean Energy is exploring the feasibility of constructing Goldrush Apple Wind, a wind energy project located in rural Peoria, Stark, and Marshall Counties, Illinois. Based on transmission capacity and local wind data, Goldrush Apple Wind has the potential to generate 600 megawatts of clean, homegrown Illinois energy, enough to power over 326,000 U.S. homes.
Apex is working with local landowners, community leaders, and various stakeholders to design a project that fits with the community and complements the agricultural heritage of the area. The project site has several key attributes, including:
- Verified wind resource
- Expansive private land
- Strong community spirit
- Minimal environmental impacts
A Clean Economic Opportunity for Peoria, Stark, and Marshall Counties
Using an innovative, community-based lease that spreads the financial benefits from the project more broadly among landowners, Goldrush Apple Wind will create jobs and generate an entirely new source of long-term revenue for counties, law enforcement, parks, townships, and property owners. The total direct financial impact to the region will be near 200 million dollars over the life of the project.
For more details on the economic impact in Peoria County, click here.
For more details on the economic impact in Stark County, click here.
As the project progresses, we will have better insight into additional indirect economic benefits to the local economy through construction and operations, which will be featured in a report.
Landowners participating in the project will receive annual payments over the projected 30+ year lifespan of the wind farm, injecting millions of dollars into the local economy to support local merchants, contractors, equipment suppliers, auto dealers, and others. The power from Goldrush Apple Wind will be delivered directly onto Illinois' electrical grid, reducing the need to import electricity from outside markets.
Local Economic Benefits
- $200 million over 30 years of annual revenue for counties, first responders, township government services, and schools in taxes, more than $116 million of which will go to local schools.
- Enough power for up to 326,000 U.S. homes (900 MW)
- Hundreds of jobs and significant local spending during construction
- Upon completion of the project, a donation of $1,000 per MW through the Apex Conservation Grant Program
- Taxpayers protected against decommissioning costs
- 30 years of revenue for landowners
* Estimated payments and jobs over life of project