Metamora, Illinois, is a small, rural community just outside Peoria, Illinois. As a future-focused Village, they aimed to find new ways to keep residents in Metamora and attract new residents. The Village owns 140 acres of underproductive farmland that will be used for new developments, including a recreational center and assisted living facility. After meeting with Trajectory, they saw solar as another way to achieve their goals while saving taxpayers money and leased 35 acres for Metamora Solar.
Trajectory attended various public events and Village Hall meetings to introduce the project to Metamora residents, who were already interested in solar energy and excited about having an array in their Village. Trajectory worked closely with the Village Board to revise their ordinance to allow the project to be built in Metamora, and in October 2022, the project was approved. The project is currently under construction using union labor and, once energized, will provide nearby community solar subscribers with cost savings on their electric bills.
As they said in the field of dreams, if they build it, they will come. I feel if we have something like this, it’s a way to show that this town is thinking into the future.
Merle Weyeneth, Metamora Village Board Member
