Rivian’s wind turbine in west Normal is officially operational.
The turbine, located just east of Rivian’s sprawling manufacturing plant, became operational Friday. It’s designed for a capacity of at least 2.8 megawatts and is capable of generating nearly 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, Rivian said.
The turbine, plus a previously installed solar-energy canopy at the plant, means that every Rivian EV made in Normal will get its first charge with 100% renewable energy.
“To us, our job isn’t done when our vehicles come off the line,” Andrew Peterman, Rivian director of renewable energy, said in a statement. “While we’re working hard to help electrify transportation, we’re also pushing to accelerate the shift to carbon-free electricity for all. This wind turbine is an early step on that path, and it’s also a beacon of our vision for a clean energy future.”
Rivian says that over its 25-year lifetime, the turbine will take the equivalent of roughly 34,000 internal-combustion engine vehicles off the road for one year. The project is estimated to generate millions of dollars in energy cost savings for the plant throughout its life, according to Rivian.
Rivian has signed the Climate Pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
Rivian is making electric trucks, vans and SUVs in Normal, where it has around 8,000 employees.
