What are some notable solar projects in Illinois and how do they contribute to the state’s renewable energy goals

<img src=https://nenpower.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/image-5799.webp alt=’What are some notable solar projects in Illinois and how do they contribute to the state’s renewable energy goals’ />

Several notable solar projects in Illinois significantly contribute to the state’s renewable energy goals by expanding clean energy capacity, supporting local economies, and offsetting fossil fuel emissions.

Notable Solar Projects in Illinois

Double Black Diamond Solar

• Located in Morgan and Sangamon Counties, about 30 miles west of Springfield.
• Capacity: Approximately 800 MWdc (593 MWac), making it the largest solar project in Illinois, the largest east of the Mississippi River, and the largest in the MISO market.
• Expected to power over 100,000 households with emissions-free energy annually.
• Estimated investment: $779 million.
• The project supports the City of Chicago’s goal by offsetting around 70% of the electricity used in its municipal operations by 2024.
• Developed and operated by Swift Current Energy, with major participation from American companies like McCarthy, First Solar, and Nextracker.
• Energy purchase agreements include Constellation serving several public and private customers, highlighting its broad impact.

Casey Fork Solar Farm

• Location: Jefferson County, Illinois.
• Capacity: 150 MWac.
• Currently under construction as of June 2024.
• This utility-scale solar project adds significant renewable capacity to the regional grid, supporting state clean energy mandates.

Prairie Wolf Solar Project

• Location: Coles County, Illinois.
• Capacity: 200 MW.
• Part of the MISO market, this project exemplifies utility-scale solar development contributing to regional clean power supply diversification.

Tilden Solar Project

• Location: Randolph County, Illinois, on a historic subsurface mine site.
• Capacity: 182 MW.
• Investment: $345 million.
• Expected to power approximately 33,800 Illinois homes annually.
• Unique for transforming a carbon-intensive mining site into a renewable energy facility, bringing economic revitalization, ecosystem protection, and community benefits.
• Developed by Sol Systems in partnership with ING, Churchill Stateside Group, Qcells, Nextracker, and McCarthy Building Cos.
• Demonstrates innovative clean energy development by combining renewable energy generation with local ecosystem and economic impacts.

Contribution to Illinois’s Renewable Energy Goals

• These projects significantly increase Illinois’s solar capacity, helping the state reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
• Large-scale facilities like Double Black Diamond demonstrate the state’s commitment to clean energy infrastructure capable of powering tens of thousands of homes and municipal operations.
• Reusing sites such as historic mines (Tilden) showcases sustainable development and revitalization, aligning with environmental and social goals.
• By involving American manufacturers and construction companies, these projects boost local job creation and economic growth alongside clean energy transitions.
• The aggregation of these utility-scale solar farms supports Illinois’s broader renewable portfolio standards and carbon reduction targets by injecting substantial amounts of clean electricity into the grid.

In summary, Illinois’s notable solar projects—such as Double Black Diamond, Casey Fork, Prairie Wolf, and Tilden Solar—play a crucial role in scaling up renewable energy production, advancing environmental sustainability, and fostering economic development in support of the state’s energy transition objectives.