Solar farm opens in Galesburg, bringing power to 600 homes

Solar farm opens in Galesburg, bringing power to 600 homes

GALESBURG, Ill. — Galesburg city officials have cut the ribbon on a 4.7-megawatt community solar farm on the city’s east edge, marking the launch of a project set to power about 600 homes.

The project stands on former farmland just outside city limits and is one of several similar community solar sites planned across Illinois.

Trajectory Energy and partner Nexamp spent five years shepherding the project, working with the Swanson family landowners, county leaders and state clean-energy grants to get panels in the ground.

“Rate-payers, households, homeowners, will see a 15% savings on their electricity bill, and that is part of the benefit, along with tax revenues,” Josh Bushinsky, Trajectory Energy co-founder and partner, said.

Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman said the project brings long-term financial benefits in two forms: new property tax revenue and wages for union workers during construction.

“We’re talking about $200,000 to $300,000 a year in new tax revenue, and that’s on top of anything else that benefits,” Schwartzman said.

Some critics have argued that solar projects like this one use up valuable farmland. Developers say the benefits far outweigh the cost, noting that less than 4% of Knox County’s farmland could power every home in the county.

“This project is going to deliver those benefits for 30 or 40 years,” Bushinsky said. “That is how we think of these types of projects, and we are working both with Nexamp but really across the state to deliver more of these projects to communities.”

Residents can join the waitlist for this facility or future sites by visiting Nexamp’s website.

Source: WQAD 8

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