PEORIA, Ill. – Ameren Illinois is breaking ground on a new center to help ease the power grid a little bit in Peoria.
Leaders with Ameren broke ground Thursday morning on the Peoria Solar Energy Center. The center will place around 5,000 solar panels on 37 acres of land in a field off of Pottstown Road.
Ameren President Lenny Singh says it’s a small step to start addressing increasing demand.
“Lots more of these types of projects are needed on the grid, to be able to add more capacity, more energy, on the grid. And ultimately, where supply and demand crosses, the more supply you have than demand, prices will start to come down,” Singh said.
Ameren estimates it will generate 2.5MW, which is enough electricity to power 420 homes.
Singh says the center is similar to two that are established in East St. Louis. The project in Peoria is estimated to cost around $20 million, but create 50 jobs during its construction. Singh says the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act helped paved the way to make the solar center possible.
“It gave Ameren the ability to develop these types of projects, to allow communities to learn how to integrate solar and renewables into the grid,” Singh said. “One, to create local jobs and fill in that gap for equity, so making sure that all communities can participate in clean energy transition.”
The center is also implementing a 1.5MW AC Lithium-Ion system to test how battery energy storage systems can help manage electricity distribution, as well as helping reduce stress on grids.
Singh estimates the center to be operational by the third quarter of 2026.
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