USA - Invenergy Announces Start of Commercial Operations of Bishop Hill Wind Project in Illinois

Invenergy Wind LLC (“Invenergy”) today announced the completion of construction and start of full commercial operations for its 200 MW Bishop Hill Wind Energy facility (“Bishop Hill”) in Henry County, Illinois.

Bishop Hill features 133 General Electric wind turbines located on 22,000 acres of farm land.
The turbines produce enough clean, renewable energy to power approximately 120,000 homes.

“Invenergy is proud that the Bishop Hill Wind farm is generating a new source of renewable energy here in our home state of Illinois,” said Jim Shield, Chief Development Officer of Chicago-based Invenergy. “We look forward to a long and successful relationship with our host community, and we appreciate the strong support in Henry County for the project.”

Bishop Hill employed 220 skilled workers during peak construction. Fourteen full-time Invenergy employees now operate and maintain the project. The wind farm further benefits the host community economically by providing tax payments to the county, local municipalities, and local school districts, as well as through lease payments to landowners.

A second phase of Bishop Hill, the 81 MW Bishop Hill II wind project (“Bishop Hill II”), was developed by Invenergy, and acquired in March by MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company.

Bishop Hill II currently is in construction in Henry County. A third phase of Bishop Hill planned by Invenergy also is in development. As proposed, it would feature 83 turbines and also would be located in Henry County.

About Invenergy
Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, own and operate large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation facilities in North America and Europe. Invenergy is committed to clean power alternatives and continued innovation in electricity generation. Invenergy's home office is located in Chicago and it has regional development offices throughout the United States, and in Canada and Europe. The nation’s largest independent wind power generation company, Invenergy and its affiliated companies currently have 6,600 MW of wind, solar, and thermal projects under contract, in construction, or in operation.