McLean County has attracted two separate wind energy contractors to develop wind farms, one of which has been under construction since July.

The first project, contracted to Horizon Wind Energy, is being constructed in unincorporated McLean County.

The project will be completed in two phases and will cost an estimated $700 million.

Bill Whitlock, project development manager for Horizon Wind Energy, said Horizon’s wind farm will create new jobs in addition to harnessing wind power for electric energy.

“We are looking at 25 to 40 new permanent jobs,” Whitlock said.

Other, less permanent construction jobs have been created as well.

According to a press release from Gov. Blagojevich’s office, Horizon’s Twin Grove wind farm will additionally generate an estimated 250 construction jobs.

On Oct. 7, it was announced Horizon would receive a $2.2 million grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Renewable Energy Resource Program.

Bob Crowell, development director for Horizon, said the project has been in planning for the past five years.

“We’ve had to go through various local government agencies which is what takes a project like this so long to complete,” he said.

According to Horizon Wind Energy’s Web site, the wind farm will supply approximately 396 megawatts of power to 120,000 homes.

The Stateline Wind Project, located in Umatilla County, Ore., generates 300 megawatts to 70,000 homes and was named the world’s largest wind farm by FPL Energy in 2001.

Whitlock expects the first phase of the wind farm project to be completed by the end of March 2007 employing the use of 120 turbines.

With an additional 120 turbines, the second and final phase of the Twin Groves wind farm will bring the total number of turbines to 240 and is expected to be completed by the end of December 2007.

The second phase is still in a proposal stage.

Phil Dick, director of building and zoning for McLean County, said 120 permits have been issued thus far and additional permits are under review.

Crowell attributed their decision to choose McLean County to the area’s windy climate and easy energy transmission access.

The second of McLean’s wind energy projects is being contracted by Invenergy, a Chicago-based energy company, and is still in the proposal stage.

According to the American Wind Association’s Web site, the Invenergy wind farm is expected to be smaller than Horizon’s with 100 turbines generating an estimated 150 megawatts.

Invenergy’s public relations contact, Joel Link, could not be reached for comment.