Cardinal Point Wind: Sprawling Illinois Wind Farm

A Story of Collaboration, Vision of Renewable Energy

Soaring above tens of thousands of acres of cropland in two western Illinois counties, cleaner and greener energy has taken deep root.

Sixty wind turbines, each with blades stretching 204 feet and mounted to towers rising nearly 30 stories skyward, have commanded attention since they first began turning in March 2020, transforming wind sweeping across the landscape into 150 megawatts of valuable power.

Meet Cardinal Point Wind, a sprawling wind farm that’s testament to the zero-carbon development vision of Canada-based Capital Power, the project’s owner. And it’s symbolic of the collaboration and trust between that wholesale power generator and Black & Veatch, a global renewable energy solutions leader that stepped up to the challenge of erecting the farm.

Years in the making, from planning stages through the permitting and eventual buildout, the project positioned in a 100-square-mile area also underscores the promise of sustainability and resilience as market drivers reshape how the electric sector views the economics of renewable energy.

Completed within the projected total cost range of $236 million to $246 million, Cardinal Point Wind – Capital Power’s third such U.S. development – exemplifies that company’s quest to continue diversifying and decarbonizing its power generation mix.

Building upon the diversified energy portfolio of Capital Power – having been in the wind energy business for roughly a decade – Cardinal Point Wind stands true to the company’s mantra of delivering “Responsible Energy for Tomorrow.”

This is the story of how it came to be.

“A wind farm (engineering, procurement and construction), from the sidelines, looks relatively easy – 60 of the same things being erected in a relatively open area,” said Steve Owens, Capital Power’s Vice President of Construction, Pre-operations and Supply Chain Management. “It’s easy to underestimate the complexity of the work.”

But Owens found Black & Veatch to be nimble, receptive and responsive to Capital Power’s input and quick to summon the physical and deep-thinking, problem-solving resources needed to muscle through.

“It's our style to be collaborative that way,” Owens said.

What proved invaluable was Black & Veatch’s integration of engineering, construction and consultation along the way about everything from underground electrical system design to transportation logistics planning.

Community Outreach and Local Goodwill

For many in Illinois’ McDonough County – with roughly 33,000 residents, now home to most of the Cardinal Point Wind turbines – the project proved to be a curiosity.

The sheriff frequently came out to the work sites, spending time chatting with workers and watching the progress. Other locals did the same, watching in awe as the turbines were pieced together and rose skyward.

While curious about the engineering and construction feat, residents also understood and witnessed the project’s local benefits. Property owners are getting an ongoing revenue stream through land lease agreements that allow for the space for each turbine. During the work, crews frequented nearby diners, and supplies and services often were sourced locally.

Charitable involvement meant to leave a lasting presence, just like wind turbines lining the area’s horizon now.

“It’s hard to tuck those off into a corner where nobody’s going to see. They’re there for everybody to see, 24 hours a day, and it’s a reminder that Capital Power is part of the community,” Owens said. “We have to play a role in the community, in being good neighbors by providing opportunity and contributing tax dollars, helping with fundraisers or interfacing with community schools.”

Mission Complete: Taking Stock

While the turbines make their circular sweep, few remnants of the process that put them there are evident.

As the blades churn, there’s lingering pride, both by Capital Power for the investment in generating power with what nature gives them and by Black & Veatch, a century-old company now versed in building a wind farm from start to finish.

“We came out of it with an EPC team and solution that we can apply to any other project, knowing that the industry is evolving and there’s going to be a lot more wind turbine projects in the future,” said Jason Schottler, Black & Veatch’s project director. “What excites me is that we’ve really grown our capabilities here. It wasn’t easy, but we put a lot into this, and we call it an investment.”

Owens was resolute in Capital Power’s satisfaction with the workmanship.

“When the going got tough, we fully expected Black & Veatch to stand behind their project and make sure it came in on time and on budget, and that’s exactly what happened,” Owens said. “But at the end of the day, I guess what it comes down to is Black & Veatch earned the right to be on this job. We got a contractor with an excellent safety record and one that we could trust to get the job done, and that’s why we partnered with Black & Veatch and will continue to do so in the future.

“It’s always a proud moment when both parties can walk away from a successful project and say, `You know what, we did this together. We did it because were willing to work together to make the right decisions to get the job done.’ And you don’t get the opportunity to do that too often.”