It’s a new day in Illinois. After years of planning and compromise, the state’s General Assembly passed SB 2408, the Energy Transition Act, an omnibus energy package that incorporated ÁùºÏ±¦µä’s legislative priority known as the Coal to Solar & Energy Storage Act.
The framework allows the company to build and operate up to 300 MW of utility-scale solar and 150 MW of battery energy storage facilities at nine retired or to-be-retired coal plant sites across central and southern Illinois.
An economic impact study commissioned by ÁùºÏ±¦µä estimated that the nine-site program would create more than 2,200 full-time jobs, generate over $180 million in earnings for workers and add over $300 million to the state’s economic output from 2022 to 2025.
ÁùºÏ±¦µä estimates it will invest over $550 million to build the Coal to Solar & Energy Storage Act portfolio in Illinois. Pending all necessary regulatory and local approvals, ÁùºÏ±¦µä intends to construct six combined utility-scale solar and battery energy storage sites and three stand-alone battery energy storage sites.
As passed, the legislation would support ÁùºÏ±¦µä’s development of the following projects:
Combined Utility-Scale Solar & Battery Energy Storage Sites:
- Baldwin, 68 MW Solar, 9 MW Battery Energy Storage
- Coffeen, 44 MW Solar, 6 MW Battery Energy Storage
- Duck Creek, 20 MW Solar, 3 MW Battery Energy Storage
- Hennepin, 50 MW Solar, 6 MW Battery Energy Storage
- Kincaid, 60 MW Solar, 8 MW Battery Energy Storage
- Newton, 52 MW Solar, 7 MW Battery Energy Storage
Stand-Alone Battery Energy Storage Sites, at plant sites that did not have the characteristics to support utility-scale solar development:
- Edwards, 37 MW Battery Energy Storage
- Havana, 37 MW Battery Energy Storage
- EEI/Joppa, 37 MW Battery Energy Storage
ÁùºÏ±¦µä anticipates several projects beginning to enter commercial service starting in 2023, and all projects are expected to enter commercial service by 2025.
More information about the Illinois Coal to Solar & Energy Storage proposal is accessible at .