COLES COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — A cheaper and cleaner form of energy is coming to Coles County.

APEX Clean Energy will be putting up wind turbines soon. However, the energy company has a lot of steps and requirements to complete before they can start construction.

Due to state regulations, surveying the farmland is a must, which can lead to damaging the crops — but that isn’t news to any of these farmers.

The land owners get up to $5 million per year collectively, and they agree to possible damage when signing their leases with APEX.

Officials said that no landowners have expressed concerns about the crop damage and are excited for this new development.

“They know we’re there, and no one has said anything to us about having any issue with it.  These farmers are excited about this project,” Ray Hoover, Senior Manager at APEX Clean Energy, said. “The landowners are going to receive immense payments for them and their children. I think it’s going to be a huge impact on their lives.”

Hoover said about $83 million in property tax revenue will go right back into the schools and community of Coles County during the duration of this project over roughly thirty years. 

He hopes construction on the wind farm will begin later this year.