Freeport, Ill. - Acciona Energy officials say phases two and three of their northwest Illinois wind farm project are still in development, and that Stephenson County likely would not receive revenue from these phases until at least 2011.

"These projects are not going to be starting construction in 2009," said Eric Schneider, director of marketing and communications for Acciona Energy. "Even if construction were to start in 2010, they would not be completed and generating revenue that year. ... Revenue probably won't come in until 2011 and beyond."

Planning is underway for the county's fiscal year 2009-2010 budget, which currently has a general fund deficit of roughly $1.4 million.

The Acciona wind farm projects have been discussed at various planning meetings in terms of whether revenue from the next two phases would be available in 2010. If so, the county could budget for this projected revenue for 2010, and help offset a sizable deficit that could lead to significant cutbacks and layoffs.

No specific figures were available regarding how much revenue the county would receive from the next two phases. This includes revenue from permitting fees, enterprise zone fees and more. However, figures in the range of $400,000 to $800,000 have been discussed.

Acciona's EcoGrove wind farm project northwest of Lena, phase 1 of the overall initiative, is currently in operation and a dedication ceremony was held in September. Planning work continues on phases two and three of the project, known as Wolf Creek and Otter Creek, respectively.

Wolf Creek, phase 2, will be located to the south and west of the EcoGrove site with turbines in Stephenson and Jo Daviess counties. It has been proposed as a farm with up to 116 turbines, and Acciona officials have said they would like to have most of the development work done in a little over a year. The final completion date is not known, but it would not be finished by 2010, Schneider said.

The third phase, Otter Creek, is not as far along in the development stage as Wolf Creek, and will be built just north of Dakota. The size of this farm has not yet been determined, Schneider said.

"It's still too early to say," Schneider said of Otter Creek's size. "Development is obviously a very long process. We're still involved in that with both of (these phases)."

County Board Vice Chairman Jim Graham said county officials are looking at the Acciona projects, but are also examining the revenue potential of two other wind farm initiatives planned for this area.

"The revenues we could see from these projects, whether in 2010 or 2011, are significant," Graham said.

Additional Projects
One of the other projects, known as the Lancaster Wind Farm LLC, would be located just north of Freeport and east of Illinois 26, between Freeport and the Wisconsin state line. It will likely include 31 turbines and may begin construction as soon as 2011.

The company behind developing this project, Navitas Energy, is also pursuing the construction of a $400 million wind farm stretching across Stephenson, Ogle and Winnebago counties east of German Valley. That project may start construction in mid-2010.