Rivian’s Scaringe: Wind turbine construction underway to help power plant operations in Normal

NORMAL (25News Now) - The foundation is being poured for a wind turbine that will tower above Rivian Automotive’s plant in west Normal, providing clean energy to help power factory operations and the electric vehicles built there.

Rivian’s founder and CEO RJ Scaringe said in a tweet earlier this week that the 2.8-megawatt (MW) turbine inside Rivian’s test vehicle track is “part of a broad set of renewable energy initiatives.”

“Soon, we will be offering customers options that ensure every mile driven can be powered by renewable energy,” said Scaringe.

Last December, Rivian a deal with Virginia-based Apex Clean Energy to buy 50 megawatts of electricity produced at a proposed wind farm in Piatt County.

Also, Rivian won Normal Town Council approval last month to install the community’s largest array of solar panels to produce electricity east of the test track.

Normal’s town government approved Rivian’s wind turbine plans last summer.