A new 5,000-panel solar energy facility covering about 37 acres in northwest Peoria is now online.
Ameren Illinois has activated the $20 million Peoria Renewable Energy Center, more than a year after breaking ground on the site just west of Pottstown along Prichard Road.
The site serves 2.5 megawatts of clean power onto Ameren's electricity distribution grid. It is Ameren's third solar generation facility constructed under the state's Climate and Equitable Jobs Act [CEJA], joining two sites in East St. Louis.
“At a time when electricity prices are rising nationwide due to increased demand and supply constraints, projects like this one can help reduce local energy costs by bringing much needed power to the grid,” said Ameren Illinois chairman and president Patrick Smith.
“We’re pleased to demonstrate to state policy makers and our customers that Ameren Illinois can build it better, stronger and faster.”
Under CEJA, signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2021, Illinois has established a goal of 100% clean energy use by 2050. Ameren said the Peoria facility will produce enough electricity to power 420 homes and businesses.
The facility also features a 1.5-megawatt battery energy storage system from ELM MicroGrid, a Texas firm that grew out of a Peoria-headquartered family of companies founded by native Peorian Lee C. Graves.
The system stores excess solar energy generated during peak production, making it available to the grid during periods of higher-than-normal demand.
“By integrating battery storage with solar generation, the Peoria Solar Energy Center is better managing energy production which supports grid stability and maximizes the benefits of renewable resources,” said ELM MicroGrid president Aron Bowman.
“This is especially meaningful to our team because we had the opportunity to work with [commercial solar installation company] Azimuth Energy and Ameren Illinois to bring this technology back home to Peoria, where ELM’s story began.”
Ameren said the Peoria solar facility continues the company’s commitment to strengthening the region’s electric grid, with more than $112.4 million invested in the Peoria metro area over the past seven years.
That includes new substations, high-voltage transmission infrastructure improvements, and technology to help detect outages and restore power faster.
