New Study: Wind Energy Means Jobs for Illinois

Illinois’s wind energy supply chain includes more than 100 companies with a total of over 15,000 employees, according to a new report from the Chicago-based Environmental Law & Policy Center.

Said the Center in a news release, “From old-line manufacturers who are retooling to build wind turbine components for the new clean energy economy to corporate headquarters for major wind power developers, to software, financial and support services, the wind industry means real business for Illinois.”

The Chicago Sun-Times added some depth in its coverage of the report with an article providing a list of several examples of Illinois companies, new and old, that are making the state into a center for wind manufacturing and development.

“Wind energy is spurring both manufacturing jobs and corporate headquarters in Illinois,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Center. “Long-time manufacturers across the state are retooling to produce wind power equipment and create jobs. We need targeted public policies to keep this business growing.”

“From manufacturing to engineering to finance, Illinois companies have the wide range of skills that the wind industry requires,” said Jerry Roper, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. “We need to support the growing wind power business in Chicago and across our state.”

The report explains that supportive federal and state policies are key throughout the energy sector, and the wind industry is no exception. Making the current Illinois Renewable Energy Standard work well and enacting a federal renewable electricity standard (RES) are important policies to drive more Illinois manufacturing of wind turbine components, corporate headquarters and professional services.