A 2.8 MW wind turbine will soon supply clean power to Rivian's manufacturing plant in Illinois.
The electric vehicle maker said the onsite project will be located in the center of the vehicle test track at the Normal, Illinois campus. The single turbine will be capable of generating nearly 10 million kWh of electricity per year, the company said.
The wind turbine project supports the company’s long-term renewable energy vision of developing high-impact projects that reduce its carbon footprint while also benefiting customers, communities, and the electrical grid.
“While we’re working hard to help electrify transportation, we’re also pushing to accelerate the shift to carbon-free electricity for all," said Andrew Peterman, Rivian director of renewable energy. "This wind turbine is an early step on that path, and it’s also a beacon of our vision for a clean energy future.”
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Rivian is partnering with Apex Clean Energy, a Virginia-based renewable energy development company with projects across the United States, to construct the turbine.
Rivian submitted a permit application to the Town of Normal, Illinois, in June, and the Town’s Planning Commission will consider approval this summer.
The proposed wind turbine would be less than 510 feet tall, with white, non-reflective blades. To identify an appropriate location, Rivian commissioned studies on potential impacts from sound and shadow flicker and to threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, and communication systems. Sound is estimated to average 35 decibels and reach a maximum of 42 decibels – about the level of a refrigerator.
The wind project aligns with Rivian’s strategy of adding renewable resources to parts of the country that need them most. Illinois’ grid is powered by just 11% renewables.
Earlier this year, at the plant’s outbound charging yard, Rivian installed a 783 kW solar canopy that is scheduled to begin generating electricity later this summer.
Rivian has signed the Climate Pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
