Illinois’ first community solar project paired with a battery energy storage system in the Ameren, Illinois, territory is now online. A similar project was recently put online in the ComEd area.
Cutting a snowy ribbon at Beard Solar in Illinois.
The 6.9 MW Beard Solar project, located in Beardstown, Illinois, is accompanied by an 11.9 MWh energy storage system owned by Solar Illinois (ESI) shares and developed and designed in a collaboration between project developer US Solar and battery integrator Eneon-ES.
“Beard Solar underscores the critical role that storage plays in modernizing our energy network and expanding access to the benefits of clean energy,” said Rena Henderson Mason, President of ESI. “This project reflects ESI’s commitment to combining clean energy development with community impact to build an electricity grid that serves everyone.”
Beard Solar will enable subscribers such as local small businesses to reduce energy costs and generate additional tax revenue for local tax authorities. For example, Beardstown Community Unit School District 15 will receive approximately $205,000 in tax revenue over the life of the project (approximately 20 years).
“We are proud to contribute to a unique clean energy project in the Ameren, Illinois territory,” said Huang lu, Chief Technical Officer at Eneon. “By combining solar energy with storage, this project will deliver robust, dispatchable power and strengthen the resiliency of the electric grid for Illinois communities.”
News item from ESI
