June 19, 2026
Community solar energy supplier Nexamp and solar and storage developer TurningPoint Energy have cut the ribbon on two community solar projects in Minonk, Illinois.
The project is located in Woodford County in central Illinois and currently sits on top of former coal mining land, officials say. With a combined capacity of 9.8 MWdc and nearly 17,000 solar panels spread over 40 hectares, the projects aim to “transform fossil fuel heritage land into a long-term source of clean, reliable energy for residents, businesses and institutions in the area.”
“The fact that we stand on this former coal site today and see it continue its role in powering our communities is a powerful symbol of Illinois’ energy future,” said Illinois State Senator Chris Balkema. “This solar energy project for the Minonk community shows how we can build on our energy heritage while embracing new opportunities.
“I support a comprehensive energy strategy that includes coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar, wind and emerging technologies – because affordable, reliable energy is essential to lowering costs for families, attracting investment and supporting quality jobs here in Woodford County.”
Minonk Mayor Russell Ruestman says the projects represent a shift in energy policy for the Land of Lincoln. For generations the site represented fossil fuels; now that the mine is closed, it’s leaning toward the future.
“Additionally, I am proud that these projects can deliver savings for local residents and institutions, make productive use of a former coal mine and demonstrate what is possible when public and private partners work together,” Ruestman added.
Advancing the distributed generation industry
Once fully online and operational, energy from the new community solar projects will be used Commonwealth Edison’s (ComEd) grid system, officials say. The projects will be among ComEd’s first to integrate Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) smart grid technology, which monitors and manages distributed generation resources in real time.
The community solar initiative is “exactly the kind of project” Nexamp wants to put on the U.S. energy grid, says CEO Zaid Ashai.
“By turning a former coal mine into a pair of community solar farms, we are helping hundreds of subscribers reduce their energy costs while strengthening their long-term energy security,” he says. “By combining that affordability with U.S.-made equipment and advanced grid tools like DERMS, these Minonk projects not only put clean energy within reach for households and institutions, they also demonstrate how community solar can make the electric grid smarter, more resilient and better prepared for Illinois’ clean energy future.”
The two projects have already been fully subscribed by ComEd’s eligible communities, the companies say. One project will serve approximately 450 residential customers, while the other will serve approximately 200 low-income households. In addition, the projects have two “institutional anchor subscribers” in the form of the Rush University Medical Center and the College of DuPage.
Salar Naini, president of TurningPoint Energy, said the completion of the projects reflects both the strength and utility of the company’s partnership with Nexamp and the role community projects play in the future of the U.S. energy industry.
“By transforming a former coal mine into a clean, long-term energy source, we are demonstrating how smart policies, private investments,” he says, “and experienced development partners can work together to repurpose old energy sources into solutions that improve affordability, reliability and decarbonization.”
Keywords: Community Solar, Illinois, Nexamp, project, TurningPoint Energy
