Will County Board Approves Earthrise Energy’s 600MW Pride of the Prairie Solar Energy Project
Large-Scale Renewable Energy Project to Advance Illinois Power Supply and Deliver Long-Term Economic and Community Benefits
Joliet, Illinois – May 21, 2026 – Earthrise Energy (“Earthrise” or the “Company”), an independent power producer, today announced that the Will County Board has approved its application for a special use permit for the proposed 600-megawatt Pride of the Prairie solar energy project (the “Project”).
The Project will leverage the existing interconnection point at Earthrise’s Lincoln Generating Facility, enabling new power to come online more quickly at a time of increasing power demand in the region. The Project will bring substantial economic benefits to Will County, its residents and the State of Illinois, including an estimated $3.5 million in new tax proceeds to local taxing bodies and approximately $300,000 directly to the County in the first year of Project operation. These benefits are expected to total approximately $80 million and $7 million, respectively, over the life of the Project, supporting local schools, infrastructure improvements and essential public services.
Pride of the Prairie will create nearly 1,000 jobs in Will County, including hundreds of construction roles as well as long-term operations positions. The Project will be fully constructed by local unions and will also support workforce development initiatives in partnership with regional organizations and institutions. The Project is being developed through ongoing engagement with local residents, landowners and community stakeholders.
“This approval is a significant milestone in delivering sustainable, renewable energy in Illinois,” said Jeff Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of Earthrise. “Illinois is among the fastest-growing electricity markets in the Midwest, and projects like Pride of the Prairie are critical to meeting demand reliably and quickly. By repurposing the transmission infrastructure of existing power plants for renewable energy development, Earthrise can bring new energy supply to the grid significantly faster than traditional greenfield projects. Pride of the Prairie is an ideal implementation of that approach and we are excited to get started.”
“We are grateful to the Will County Board for its support of our project and look forward to continuing our work with local stakeholders as the project moves forward,” said Rob Kalbouss Director of Development at Earthrise. “Pride of the Prairie will provide sustainable power, as well as jobs for local residents, and will deliver long-term benefits for the community, including support for emergency services, schools and universities, park districts, environmental groups, and other entities.”
“Today’s vote is a win for the working men and women of Will County and for the future of our region’s energy infrastructure,” said James P. Connolly, Business Manager of the Chicago Laborers’ District Council. “The Pride of the Prairie Solar Project will not only create hundreds of jobs for local union members, but also create a pathway for new apprentice laborers to begin their careers in construction.”
More information on Pride of the Prairie can be found here: https://earthriseenergy.com/pride-of-the-prairie/.
About Earthrise Energy
Earthrise Energy, PBLLC, is an independent power producer with a mission to reduce power sector greenhouse gas emissions faster than ever before. The company acquires, owns, and operates legacy fossil fuel assets and repurposes the transmission infrastructure for renewable energy development projects, bringing them online faster than typical greenfield renewable energy projects. Earthrise has 1.7 GW of gas-fired generation capacity and has a solar development pipeline of more than 1.7 GW. For more information about Earthrise Energy, visit: www.earthriseenergy.com.
Contacts
EarthriseEnergy@gasthalter.com