The Great Give-Back:
Green River Wind Farm Makes First Annual Donation to Local Community Fund
Project poised to donate over $775,000 to Lee and Whiteside Counties, Illinois
Minneapolis, MN (April 6, 2021) – Green River Wind Farm, an operational 194 megawatt (MW) clean wind energy project located in Lee and Whiteside Counties in Illinois within the PJM Regional Transmission Operator (RTO) system, announced today the first donation of $38,800 to the Green River Community Fund, a charitable initiative associated with the project. Green River Wind Farm has Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPA) with Apple, Akamai Technologies, and Swiss Re, as well as a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA). 3Degrees facilitated the renewable energy aggregation with the corporate power purchasers. The project was developed and is operated by National Grid Renewables, which includes the renewables development company formerly known as Geronimo Energy.
The Green River Community Fund is one of eleven charitable funds initially established by National Grid Renewables, whose foundation as a farmer-friendly, community-focused business includes a commitment to giving back to the communities that host its renewable energy projects. The total estimated charitable commitment for the Green River Community Fund is approximately $775,000.
In addition to the community fund benefits, Green River Wind Farm is positively impacting the local and state economies through job and tax revenue creation. The project employed approximately 200 construction workers at its construction peak and created 10 new full-time jobs at its Operations & Maintenance building located in Deer Grove, Illinois. Additionally, the project is anticipated to provide millions in new tax revenue, as well as landowner income in the form of land lease payments throughout operations.
The Green River Community Fund donations will be leveraged to serve local community members in the cities and towns connected to the local project. A board of directors comprised of local residents and Green River Wind Farm landowners will oversee the grant application and disbursement process.
“These funds will help improve our communities within the area of the Green River Wind Farm Project,” said Rick R. Clary, the Green River Community Fund Board President. “It is the Board’s hope that we can help some organizations and improve or enhance the quality of life within the area. We are excited to start this process and look forward to many years of helping organizations in need.”
Local charitable organizations interested in learning more about the grant application process can contact the Green River Community Fund’s Board President, Rick Clary, at [email protected].
About National Grid Renewables
National Grid Renewables, part of the competitive, unregulated National Grid Ventures division of National Grid (NYSE: NGG), develops, owns and operates large-scale renewable energy assets across the United States, including solar, wind and battery storage. As a farmer-friendly and community-focused business, National Grid Renewables develops projects for corporations and utilities that seek to repower America’s electricity grid by reigniting local economies and reinvesting in a sustainable, clean energy future.
National Grid Renewables has a robust development pipeline of wind, solar and battery storage projects in various stages of development throughout the United States, as well as geographically diverse operational assets across the country. It supports National Grid’s vision of being at the heart of a clean, fair, and affordable energy future for all.
