The Illinois chorus frog (Pseudacris illinoensis), which relies on very specific habitats, is considered a threatened species by the state of Illinois. As its essential habitat has disappeared, the frog’s population has declined. Illinois recently passed groundbreaking legislation called the Future Energy Jobs Act, which sets  ambitious goals for renewable energy in the state. Wind power has become one of the leading suppliers of renewable energy in the nation, and renewable energy goals are increasing the demand for construction of wind power facilities, expanding impacts to species that use the same land — such as Illinois chorus frogs.

Cordelio Power has two wind energy projects that are examples of these new investments in renewable energy. The Glacier Sands Wind Project covers approximately 30,000 acres and consists of 43 wind turbines that can generate 185 megawatts of renewable energy annually. The 19,000-acre Moraine Sands Wind Project will contain 49 turbines capable of producing 190 megawatts of energy.

After efforts to avoid and minimize impacts to Illinois chorus frog habitat are made, construction of the wind energy projects will result in a small amount of unavoidable impact in the Illinois sand prairies. Cordelio Power and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) agreed that a mitigation fund would be established to offset unavoidable impacts resulting from the projects.

The Conservation Solution

IDNR designated The Conservation Fund to hold the mitigation fund and implement projects that result in conservation benefits to the Illinois chorus frog.

Outcome Highlights

Conservation

The Conservation Fund is working with IDNR, Heartlands Conservancy and other partners to identify priority acquisition and restoration sites that would benefit the Illinois chorus frog and has begun reaching out to potential project partners. The goal is to provide landscape-scale benefits to the Illinois chorus frog.

Economic

Together these wind energy projects can generate sufficient electricity to satisfy the annual consumption needs of more than 336,000 homes.