We are building a 135 MWac solar project in Ford County on approximately 1,300 acres.

The solar project will be built in Ford County, north of our natural gas plant in Gibson City.

We anticipate submitting our zoning application for approval in second quarter 2024.

The start of construction will depend on a number of factors including the county permitting process. Generally speaking, however, construction could begin in mid to late-2024.

Depending on the size, it takes between 9 to 18 months to construct a utility-scale solar project. However, the actual timeline from project conception to commissioning can take three or more years due to the approval and permitting processes.

The solar project will generate clean, renewable energy for 35 years.

Earthrise Energy is responsible for decommissioning the solar project when it reaches the end of its useful life. Earthrise Energy is required to set aside dedicated funds to cover the costs associated with decommissioning the solar project, removing all equipment and restoring the land to its preexisting operations, when it reaches the end of its operational life.

Utility-scale renewable energy projects like the ones we are building can help reduce energy bills for consumers. Solar energy is one of the cheapest forms of energy available today and can lead to lower costs. However, your energy bill that you get from your local electric utility is composed of a number of different charges that impact your overall bill. Increasingly, for example, the construction of transmission lines has led to increased electric bills. Our solar projects reduce the need for the addition of large new transmission line development because we are building our projects near existing transmission infrastructure.  

Research conducted across the US has consistently found that solar projects do not impact neighboring property values.

The solar panels themselves do not make any noise. However, certain equipment, such as solar tracking systems tilting to follow the sun and generators, produce noise like a dishwasher and may emit some sound. The panels' remote field locations mean the project won’t be audible from roads or adjacent properties.

As part of the permitting process, Earthrise Energy will have to conduct a comprehensive study to identify the roads that will be used and the frequency of the road usage during construction. Under a road use agreement with the county, Earthrise Energy will be required to maintain or, when required, even upgrade those roads to ensure those roads remain operational during and after construction. 

In terms of traffic, local residents will see an increase in light construction vehicles, pickup trucks, and flatbeds delivering equipment, during construction. 

Earthrise Energy will implement best practices to manage stormwater runoff and protect the environment. As part of these efforts, Earthrise will work to maintain natural drainage patterns whenever possible, limit site grading, and minimize impervious areas. Earthrise’s General Contractor will implement stormwater control barriers including but not limited to straw wattles and silt fence. The company will also work to maintain good soil health and vegetation cover around the panels to soak in and slow water runoff. 

Solar energy is among the lowest impact forms of energy available. It does not generate any air or water pollution. In addition, Earthrise conducts wildlife studies to minimize the impact any solar project has on native species and complies with all local, state and federal government regulations.

Solar projects have no substantial fuel source to support a fire. The panels are primarily made of metal and glass. Earthrise is working with local emergency responders to develop an emergency response plan in the unlikely case of a fire.

Solar panels are made of glass, polymer, aluminum, copper, and semiconductor materials that can be recovered and recycled at the end of their useful life. Like a car windshield, should a panel crack, it will stay intact. 

Earthrise Energy is committed to supporting the reshoring of solar equipment manufacturing in the United States. We have entered into a contract to buy US-assembled solar panels and will ensure our tracking systems are also assembled in the US.

Yes, many components of a solar panel can be recycled. Glass composes most of the weight of a solar panel (about 75 percent). Other materials that are easily recyclable include the aluminum frame, copper wire, and plastic junction box. More broadly, the solar industry is taking a variety of steps to improve the lifespan of solar panels and working on ways to improve recycling.At Earthrise, we follow very stringent environmental and decommissioning guidelines and will return any leased property to the state it was found as required by our lease agreements. 

First it is important to note that the land is not being taken out of production permanently. The projects are long-term, but after decommissioning and end of the leases, the land will be suitable for farming or other uses as landowners see fit. Solar projects are a way to preserve agricultural land for future generations. The Illinois Farm Bureau has referred to this as “delayed production.” Second, we are building projects near our existing thermal plants and leveraging the existing infrastructure already in place. This is what allows us to offer lease rates to farmers that compete with or exceed agricultural value.

Solar projects can provide much needed rest for farmed properties and allow the land to be returned to productive agriculture after the solar projects are decommissioned and fully removed.