We are proposing the development of a 188 MWac solar project

Tilton Solar will be sited in Vermilion County, south of Earthrise’s natural gas plant, the Tilton Energy Center

Construction will take approximately 18-months

Utility-scale solar projects typically 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. Earthrise will also enter into an Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement with the State of Illinois. This ensures that at the end of its operational life, the land for Tilton Solar will be restored back to productive farmland.

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. Solar projects are quiet, odorless neighbors and can be easily hidden with vegetative screening. 

As part of the permitting process, Earthrise Energy will conduct a comprehensive study to identify the roads that will be used and the frequency of the road usage during construction. Earthrise will enter into a road use agreement (RUA) with the applicable road authority. The RUA will require Earthrise to maintain or, when required, upgrade roads to ensure roads remain operational during and after 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 panels have no combustible materials that could cause a fire. The panels are made primarily of glass and aluminum. Earthrise will prepare an emergency response plan alongside local emergency responders in the unlikely case of a fire.

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 aluminum frames, copper wire, and plastic junction boxes. 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.

It is important to note that the land is not being taken out of production permanently. Solar projects are long-term, but after decommissioning, the land will be suitable for farming or other uses as landowners see fit. Solar projects preserve agricultural land for future generations. During the life of the project, the land lays fallow and is seeded with native grasses and pollinator friendly plants. No pesticides or fertilizers will be used. At the end of the project’s life, the land will likely be in better condition for farming. 

In addition, 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.