I am writing today in support of the Alta Farms II wind energy project in DeWitt County. I am a professor of economics and helped create the renewable energy major at Illinois State University. I also ran the Illinois Wind Working Group under the Department of Energy to help promote wind energy for many years.
I was hired by the developer of the project, Tradewind Energy, to do an analysis of the property tax revenue and economic impact of the project to the local community. My analysis found significant property tax revenue coming to the schools, county and other taxing entities as a result of the wind project. Furthermore, the construction and permanent jobs that will result from this project will boost the local economy and provide good-paying employment for union workers and students from programs such as the one at Illinois State.
I want to encourage the DeWitt County Board to approve this project.
David G. Loomis, Bloomington
Dr. David G. Loomis is Professor of Economics at Illinois State University and Co-Founder of the Center for Renewable Energy. He has over 10 years of experience in the renewable energy field and has performed economic analyses at the county, region, state and national levels for utility-scale wind and solar generation.
He has testified on the economic impacts of energy projects before the Illinois Commerce Commission, Missouri Public Service Commission, Illinois Senate Energy and Environment Committee and numerous county boards. Dr. Loomis is a widely recognized expert and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, Associated Press, and Chicago Tribune as well as appearing on CNN.
Dr. Loomis has published over 25 peer-reviewed articles in leading energy policy and economics journals. Dr. Loomis received his Ph.D. in economics from Temple University in 1995.
