Energy company confirms wind turbine collapses near Paxton

PAXTON, Ill. — A leaning wind turbine in Ford County came crashing down Thursday evening. It is located just south of Route 9 near Paxton.

RWE Renewables Americas LLC confirmed they received reports the turbine collapsed Thursday evening. They say crews were not there when it happened, but were later sent to investigate the cause.

A neighbor who lives about a quarter of a mile from the turbine said the collapse sounded like a “loud rumble of thunder,” and he could feel the “vibration from the impact” from inside his home.

A different family who lives about three miles away says they heard a loud crash, or what sounded like “a shed door closing.”

Matt Tulis, a representative from RWE Renewables, says crews secured the area around the turbine for safety. They are asking people to keep a distance from the site as crews work.

Tulis called the situation “very rare,” and said nothing like this has happened on any of the other wind farms they operate across the country. He said the turbine was first reported to be leaning Wednesday morning.

The turbine is part of the Pioneer Trail Wind Farm.