Prairie Creek Wind is a 200 MW wind farm under development by RWE. The project is located in Blackford County, Indiana and will generate enough locally produced electricity to power more than 42,000 homes. Operations is scheduled to begin in 2027.
The wind farm will include up to 51 turbine locations and feature careful project design that utilizes less than 1.5 acres per turbine.
Status: In Development
homes powered
in new local tax revenue
construction jobs
Supporting Farmers
Harvesting wind for electricity is part of a long tradition of using land responsibly for production. Prairie Creek will be located on participating landowners’ private property, offering a stable, 30-year source of income while powering homes and businesses. For families who choose to host turbines, this income can be used to reinvest in their agricultural operations, save for retirement, and use their increased purchasing power to support local businesses throughout Blackford County.
Wind farms leave over 99% of the land within a project’s footprint untouched and are designed to coexist with regular agricultural operations.
Farmers can utilize turbine access roads and continue to farm around the turbine locations.
Supporting Blackford County
At 200 MW, Prairie Creek will generate $60 million dollars in property taxes over 30 years, as well $8.4 million in economic development payments to Blackford County. This new source of public funding can reduce the tax burden on local residents and be used to support essential services such as schools, roads, fire departments, libraries, and first responders.
Here at RWE, we value community engagement and giving back to our project areas. Prairie Creek is proud to contribute to local organizations through donations, sponsorships and memberships.
Supporting Rural Economies
In addition to the millions of dollars in new property tax revenue generated by the project, wind farms create hundreds of jobs during construction, including direct and indirect economic benefits. Lodging, restaurants, housing, repair shops, and fuel sales will see an economic boom during this time. Once Prairie Creek is operational, six to eight permanent positions will be staffed locally, introducing the community to well-paying jobs in one of the nation’s fastest growing industries.
Prairie Creek Wind will also be designed to minimize impacts to wildlife. Comprehensive studies are part of the planning and permitting process to plan carefully around protected species. Wind turbines and other wind facilities are sited carefully according to permits.
At the end of Prairie Creek’s useful life, equipment will be removed and the land returned to its original uses.
Wind farms generate electricity without producing pollution, resulting in cleaner air and water when compared to conventional sources of power. Prairie Creek is expected to save $16 million in annual public health savings due to pollution reduction resulting in lower rates of asthma, heart conditions and other health issues.
In addition, wind energy generation also consumes far less water than conventional sources. The project will conserve 219 million gallons of water per year compared to traditional power plants.
With a carbon payback of less than a year, wind energy is a critical solution to climate change, which is the largest threat to many bird and wildlife species.
