Large solar farm under construction outside Highland. Here’s what we know
The large solar array under construction outside Highland is part of an ongoing push for solar in Illinois on private property.
Four years ago, at least nine companies approached landowner William Drake about leasing property for a solar farm on his property. The interest stemmed from the Future Energy Jobs Act of 2016 that created incentives for renewable energy providers to build solar farms throughout the state.
Summit Ridge Energy won the bid to build on Drake’s 145 acres in a 25-year lease, and now it is finally under construction. Summit Ridge Energy is a national company focused on developing solar energy for individual homes and businesses as well as community projects.
City Manager Chris Conrad confirmed the solar farm will sell its energy to Ameren, which owns the transmission line that runs along the south side of the railroad tracks in that area.
Conrad said the energy benefit to Highland is collateral.
“While most of our power capacity comes from Prairie State, Ameren is the sole transmission company in downstate Illinois, so all power along their transmission lines gets used — whether from Prairie State, other traditional sources or from renewable sources,” he said.
Currently the incentives for grid-scale solar projects are designed for investor-owned companies, Conrad said, with the intent the companies will install as much capacity as possible to earn government incentives while speeding up the transition to renewable energy.
“Because of the incentives — many of which are tax-based — it makes a lot more financial sense for the solar companies to partner with Ameren rather than a nonprofit like the city,” Conrad said.
Eventually Conrad believes municipal and co-op energy systems will be included in the incentives.
“But the reality is we are not enough of the market to make the kind of quick impact the policymakers are looking for,” he said.
However, Highland is situated along a stretch of transmission line, which makes fields in the region desirable for solar development without having to spend a great deal of money connecting to transmission lines, Conrad said.
“By working with these solar developers on their projects on the placement and zoning, right now this is the main way the city can show their support for grid-scale renewable energy projects,” he said.
