Old Coal Mine Now Powers 650 Homes With Illinois Solar

Land that once produced coal for 70 years is now generating clean electricity for hundreds of Illinois families.

Two new community solar farms in Woodford County now sit where coal was mined from the 1870s to the 1940s. The transformation marks the first time this former brownfield site has produced energy since miners last worked the Colchester Coal Seam.

TurningPoint Energy developed the projects while Nexamp built and now operates them. Together, the solar farms generate 9.8 megawatts of power using nearly 17,000 solar panels across 40 acres of reclaimed land.

More than 650 households and businesses have signed up to receive power from the farms. One project serves about 450 residential customers, while the second focuses on 200 low-income households who often miss out on solar savings.

Rush University Medical Center and the College of DuPage are also on board. These two institutions account for 40% of the electricity produced, creating a stable foundation that makes broader community participation possible.

Illinois Shines, the state's solar incentive program, certified the site as a brownfield. That designation provides extra incentives for putting previously disturbed land back into productive use instead of clearing new ground.

The projects also showcase cutting-edge technology. They're among the first on ComEd's grid to use software that helps utilities manage solar power in real time, making it easier to add more renewable energy while keeping the lights on reliably.

All the solar panels were manufactured in the United States. The electricity flows directly to ComEd's grid, powering local homes and businesses without complicated installations on individual rooftops.

The Ripple Effect

This transformation shows how communities can turn environmental scars into assets. The coal that once fueled Illinois now gives way to sunshine doing the same job without the pollution.

Other former mining sites across the country are watching closely. What worked in Woodford County could work anywhere land sits idle after decades of industrial use.

The project also proves that clean energy doesn't mean choosing between affordability and progress. Low-income families get the same access to solar savings as major medical centers and colleges.

Community solar removes the biggest barriers to renewable energy. Renters, people without suitable roofs, and families who can't afford installation costs can all participate and save money on their electric bills.

From coal dust to solar panels, one Illinois county is showing the path forward looks brighter than the past.