Earthrise Energy, the owner and operator of the natural gas peaker plant, the Shelby County Energy Center, has proposed Glacier Moraine Solar to generate renewable energy in Illinois. The power from the proposed project will help create a more resilient electric grid that we need to offset growing electricity demand.

We, the undersigned residents of Coles County, petition the County Board and Planning and Zoning Commission to approve the proposed 210-MWac Glacier Moraine Solar project. The Glacier Moraine Solar Project will provide a long-term economic boost to Coles County by creating new family wage jobs, stimulating local economic activity for local businesses, and providing long-term tax revenue.

This project will:

• Generate more than$42.7 million in property taxes for all taxing districts with $6.74 million for Mattoon CUSD #2, $18.3 million for Neoga CUSD #3, and $3.82 million for Lakeland College over 30 years.
  
  
• Create 243 new local jobs during construction and 18.4 long-term jobs in Coles County and 8.7 long-term jobs in Cumberland County.
  
  
• Help farmers generate additional income and, in some cases, save their land for future generations by supplementing their income with solar land lease payments for 50 years.
  
  
• Improve grid reliability and help lower wholesale electricity costs – as solar energy is now one of the cheapest forms of energy.
  
  
• Preserve farmland for future generations and restore soil health, allowing soil time to rest without using pesticides.
  
  
• Provide long-term stability for the county and local taxpayers by ensuring the operation of the solar project well into the future as other gas-fired power plants close.

Earthrise Energy is committed to being a good corporate citizen and is local to the community, operating the Shelby County Energy Center in Neoga. The company has sponsored local community events and projects including the Coles County Fair, the Charleston Fun Run and Charleston Farmers Market, and many more. The company has also provided over $210,000 in grants to help fund organizations like the Lumpkin College at EIU, LIFT, Restoration Farms, the Standing Stone and Eastern Illinois Food Banks, and more. For these reasons, I urge the Coles County Board and Planning and Zoning Commission to approve the Glacier Moraine Solar project and ensure that the project can begin construction next summer.