Heritage Prairie

Generating Home
Grown Energy

Heritage Prairie Renewable

Providing Stable Funding for Counties & Local Schools

Heritage Prairie Renewable

Creating Jobs in Our Community

Heritage Prairie Renewable

Heritage Prairie Renewable is a wind and solar development jointly developed by Pattern Energy and ConnectGen, that will provide economic benefits and jobs that will last generations. The Heritage Prairie Wind project will be located in western Kankakee County and north-eastern Livingston County. The Heritage Prairie Solar project will be located east of the Village of Essex in Kankakee County.

We believe the best way to build successful facilities is to work closely with local residents in a way that is respectful and fits the needs of the communities that host us.

With an emphasis on relationship building and open communication, we aim to engage local communities, address and incorporate feedback, and further local priorities.

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Projected Schedule

2023
Target Full Construction Start
»
2024/2025
Target Full Operations

Project Location

Local Benefits

Economic Investment

Represents a projected investment of roughly $700M in Kankakee and Livingston counties.

Community Revenue

Provides an estimated $5M per year to local communities, totaling $159M over the projected life of the project. More than 50% of the revenue will go to area school districts and the community college. The stable, long-term revenue will directly contribute to education, community services, roads, and first responder capabilities.

Economic Boost

Increased demand for lodging, food services, gas, groceries, and other local services.

Job Creation

Construction Jobs

700–900 wind construction jobs and 300–400 solar construction jobs including heavy equipment operators, electricians, laborers, and others

Full-Time Local Jobs

10–12 jobs and 2–4 jobs to operate and maintain the wind facility and solar facility respectively

Construction

The project will inject millions of dollars into the economy, while utilizing local companies, services, and materials and creating jobs. Local workers and subcontractors will be involved to the greatest extent possible – from building access roads and turbine foundations to assembling and installing turbine components. Subcontractors will be engaged to conduct civil work – grading, excavation, and concrete – electrical work and mechanical assembly. Activities will also include site preparation before infrastructure installation begins and site restoration at the completion of construction.

New jobs during both construction and operations create increased earnings for the County as well as increased demand for local vendors and services, including lodging, food services, gas, groceries, and others.

Heritage Prairie Renewable Partners

Pattern is one of the world’s leading renewable energy generation, transmission, and energy storage companies, with operating and development footprints in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.

Headquartered in the United States, our global portfolio includes more than 30 utility-scale renewable power facilities and transmission assets. Our facilities serve a diverse range of customers who provide low-cost energy to millions of consumers.

With our experience building renewable energy projects worldwide, we are well-positioned to continue delivering high-quality facilities for years to come.

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ConnectGen is an independent renewable energy company focused on developing renewable generation and energy storage projects across North America. ConnectGen’s portfolio consists of renewable energy generation projects, including solar, wind, and storage, as well as transmission infrastructure that will dramatically increase America’s supply of low-cost clean energy.

Our team includes highly regarded professionals in the energy industry who have developed, financed, constructed, and operated large-scale renewable energy and infrastructure projects across the United States. ConnectGen is backed by Quantum Energy Partners. Founded in 1998, Quantum Energy Partners is a leading provider of private equity capital to the global energy industry, having managed together with its affiliates more than $16 billion in equity commitments since inception.

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Heritage Prairie is being designed as a 400 MW wind facility and a 300 MW solar facility.

It will provide safe, affordable, renewable electricity equivalent to the needs of more than 450,000 Americans annually.

Project Documents

Coming soon.