01-05-2025
Solar farm, energy storage facility proposed in Iroquois Co.
IROQUOIS COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — A $100 million project to construct a solar farm and energy storage facility could be coming just north of Buckley.
WCIA's partners with the Ford County Chronicle reported that community members gathered at Chris Lutheran High School in Buckley for an informational open house on the proposed project known as the Louis Creek Solar. This project is being developed by Allium Renewable Energy LLC of Chicago, which plans to build it on 380 acres of land in Artesia Township about two miles north of Buckley.
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Construction of the 50-megawatt solar farm and 10-megawatt battery storage facility would start in early 2026 and finish by the first quarter of 2027, which is when it would be put into full operation.
'Louis Creek Solar is currently in the advanced design phase and has reached an agreement to connect to the electrical grid with the host utility company, Ameren,' the Louis Creek Solar website said. 'We are now pursuing the necessary land-use permits and agreements with both Iroquois County and Artesia Township.'
The project, estimated to cost $100 million, is expected to produce enough renewable energy to power approximately 8,000 homes each year while creating more than 100 local jobs. It is also supposed to generate economic benefits including an estimated $8-9 million in new local property tax revenue over the project's life span to the Paxton-Buckley-Loda school district, Buckley Fire Protection District, Parkland Community College, Iroquois County and Artesia Township.
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On the project's website, it said Allium Renewable Energy LLC was established in 2008 'to originate, develop, finance, construct and operate wind farms, solar power plants and energy storage facilities.'
'With our pipeline of more than 3,500 [megawatts] of solar and wind projects, we are contributing to the country's energy self-sufficiency — renewably and sustainably powering the future,' the website said.
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