Cenergy IL – BA Family Solar Project
Village of Limestone, Kankakee County, Illinois
The Cenergy IL – BA Family Solar Project, located in the Village of Limestone, Kankakee County, Illinois, will generate approximately 6.65 megawatts (MWdc) of clean energy annually. Supporting Illinois’ goal of achieving 40% renewable energy by 2030, this project will strengthen the state’s electricity mix while reducing carbon emissions.
Spanning 32.3 acres, the project will feature over 11,000 solar modules on a single-axis tracker system, producing approximately 10,500 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable electricity each year. This clean energy generation will displace up to 7,990 metric tons of CO₂ annually, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to a cleaner environment.
As a Community Solar Garden, the project is designed to expand access to solar energy for Illinois residents who may not have the financial means or space to install solar panels on their own properties. By participating in community solar, residents can benefit from lower electricity costs while supporting the transition to renewable energy.
Beyond its environmental impact, the project will provide economic benefits to the local community. It will create construction jobs, generate long-term tax revenue, and support solar grazing, where local farmers will use sheep to manage vegetation sustainably. Construction is set to begin in mid-2025, with operations expected to start by late 2025, marking a significant step toward a more sustainable energy future for Illinois.
Agrivoltaics: Enhancing Sustainability Through Dual-Use Solar
Agrivoltaics, or dual-use solar, combines agriculture with solar energy production, allowing land to support both farming and renewable energy generation. One key practice, solar grazing, uses livestock to maintain vegetation around solar panels. This method is gaining traction nationwide for its environmental and economic benefits.
Vegetated ground cover plays a crucial role in preventing soil erosion, improving water absorption, and stabilizing foundations. Planting native and pollinator-friendly species enhances biodiversity by providing food and habitat for local wildlife, including bats, birds and insects.
The Cenergy IL – BA Family Solar Project includes a pollinator habitat management plan, with designated areas for pollinator gardens along the perimeter and between the solar modules. The site will be planted with a Prairie Dry Mesic Seed Mix, a selection of native Illinois plants that will bloom throughout spring, summer, and fall, offering a continuous food source for pollinators from April to November.
However, vegetation must be carefully managed to ensure safety and efficiency. Tall plants can shade solar panels, interfere with equipment and increase fire risks during hot summers. To maintain a balanced and eco-friendly landscape, the project will use sheep grazing as a natural and sustainable vegetation management solution.
Standard Solar, with the support of the American Grazing Association, will establish long-term contracts with local farmers to bring their sheep to graze the site. The solar panels are installed at a height and spacing that ensures sheep can move freely and safely. Unlike other livestock, sheep maintain vegetation without damaging plant root structures, allowing regrowth and promoting a self-sustaining ecosystem. Additionally, their presence naturally fertilizes the soil, supporting long-term soil health and agricultural productivity.
Benefits
Economic Impact
The Cenergy IL – BA Family Solar Project will deliver long-term economic benefits to Kankakee County by creating local construction jobs and supporting regional farmers through contracted sheep grazing for vegetation management. Beyond job creation, the project will generate substantial tax revenue to fund essential community services and infrastructure. By combining renewable energy development with sustainable land use, the project fosters economic growth and environmental stewardship, ensuring a lasting positive impact on the local community.
Clean Energy Impact
The Cenergy IL – BA Family Solar Project will play a vital role in Illinois’ clean energy transition by generating approximately 10,500 MWh of carbon-free electricity annually. By providing enough power for 1,588 U.S. homes, the project directly contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a state where electricity accounts for 40% of total emissions. As a pollution-free energy source, solar power supports Illinois’ decarbonization goals while enhancing the resilience and sustainability of the local grid.
Offsets
The Cenergy IL – BA Family Solar Project will help reduce carbon emissions by displacing approximately 7,990 tCO2e annually—equivalent to the carbon absorption of over 5,000 acres of U.S. forests. By avoiding fossil fuel combustion, the project contributes to a cleaner Illinois energy grid while supporting regional decarbonization goals. This significant emissions reduction is comparable to removing the environmental impact of more than 3,700 football fields of forest, reinforcing the project’s role in climate sustainability.
Location
Village of Limestone, Kankakee County, Illinois
Project Size
6.65 MWdc
Timeline to operation
Construction will begin in the first quarter of 2025, with operations expected to start in October 2025
The project spans 32.30 acres, hosting over 11,000 solar modules that will generate 10,500 MWh of clean energy annually, powering approximately 1,588 homes each year.
The project will contribute to Illinois’ 40% renewable energy goal by 2030, generating 6.65 MWdc of solar power while enhancing grid reliability.
Location
Strategically located in the Village of Limestone, Kankakee County, Illinois, the Cenergy IL – BA Family solar project repurposes 32.30 acres of land to generate 6.65 MWdc of clean energy while enhancing local biodiversity. Positioned within the Illinois power grid, the project will bolster regional grid reliability and contribute to the state’s goal of 40% renewable energy by 2030. The site’s design includes pollinator-friendly vegetation and solar grazing, fostering ecological benefits while supporting sustainable land management. Its integration with key infrastructure ensures efficient power distribution, maximizing both environmental and economic impact.
Economic Impact
The project will create jobs during both construction and operation, supporting local employment.
Sheep grazing provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional vegetation management, benefiting local farmers.
Tax revenue generated will help fund schools, emergency services and public infrastructure improvements in Kankakee County.
Goodwill Industries, VA, 0.5 MWdc
Port Newark Container Terminal, NJ, 3.29 MWdc
Clean Energy Impact
Solar panels produce clean electricity without emitting greenhouse gases or polluting the surrounding environment.
The project will significantly reduce Illinois’ reliance on fossil fuels, supporting statewide emissions reduction targets.
By integrating renewable energy into the Illinois grid, the project ensures a more reliable and sustainable power supply for local communities.
Environmental Impact
12 acres of trees will be cleared for safe installation and operation, with bat boxes installed to mitigate impacts and compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The project avoids local streams and wetlands and will save 124.5 million gallons of water annually, equivalent to 188 Olympic swimming pools.
No critical habitats or state-listed threatened species exist on the site, as confirmed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Carver, MA, 2.8 MWdc
Shepherds Mill, MD, 2.77 MWdc
Agrivoltaics
The project includes a pollinator habitat management plan, using a Prairie Dry Mesic Seed Mix to ensure continuous blooms through spring, summer, and fall, providing a stable food source for pollinators.
In partnership with the American Grazing Association, the project will create long-term opportunities for farmers to bring sheep for grazing, ensuring sustainable vegetation control.
Sheep grazing prevents shading and production inefficiencies, preserves plant root structures for water retention and avoids damage to solar equipment, unlike goats.
Offsets
The project directly offsets emissions from the Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern power grids, both serving Illinois.
Displacing 7,990 tCO2e annually supports cleaner air and mitigates climate change impacts in local communities.
Solar energy from the project replaces fossil-fuel-based electricity, reducing dependency on coal and natural gas.
McGregor, TX,12.6 MWdc
Project Location
Where is the Cenergy IL – BA Family solar project located and is it visible from public roads?
The Cenergy – BA Family solar project is in the Village of Limestone, Kankakee County, Illinois.
The project is not visible from public roads as the project has included a tree buffer along the project’s perimeter.
Who owns the land on which the Cenergy IL – BA Family solar project is built?
The Cenergy IL – BA Family solar project is built on private land which is rented by Standard Solar to operate the system. This land will be leased for a period of 20 years (2024-2044), spanning the development, use, maintenance and decommissioning of the project, subject to optional and voluntary two ten-year renewal periods.
Safety & Operations
How do solar panels work?
Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity through a process called the photovoltaic effect. Each panel is made up of many solar cells, typically composed of silicon, a material that can absorb sunlight. When sunlight hits these cells, it excites electrons, creating an electric current. This current is collected and directed through wires to power homes, businesses, or the electrical grid. Solar panels are often installed in arrays to capture as much sunlight as possible, and they work best in sunny locations. By harnessing the sun’s energy, solar panels provide a clean, renewable source of electricity without producing harmful emissions.
What happens after the useful life of a solar project?
At Standard Solar, we are committed to sustainability throughout the entire lifecycle of our projects. The Pennsville solar project will produce electricity for 25 years. After this time, when the project reaches the end of its operational life, there are well-established processes to ensure responsible repowering or decommissioning and recycling.
Standard Solar will post a decommissioning bond for this project to showcase its capacity and commitment to restoring the land after the project’s lifetime.
Standard Solar has programs and policies to safely remove equipment, restore the land to its original state, and recycle materials like glass, metal, and silicon from solar panels. These programs allow Standard Solar to minimize waste, prevent any burdens on the community, and support the circular economy, ensuring that renewable energy remains a sustainable solution for future generations.
Do solar projects make noise?
Solar projects are designed to operate quietly, making them an ideal option for generating renewable energy without disrupting nearby communities, agriculture or wildlife. The primary components–solar panels–make no noise during operation. Some equipment, like inverters or transformers, may produce a low humming (up to 60 dB) sound when converting solar energy into electricity. Still, this noise is minimal and typically only noticeable when close to the equipment. Overall, solar projects are a clean, quiet and community-friendly energy solution.
Additionally, this project is in an area where the distance from homes further reduces any potential sound impact.
Will the project produce glare?
Environment & Wildlife
How will the project manage erosion and stormwater during its lifetime?
This project has been designed with comprehensive measures to manage erosion, stormwater and dust control effectively throughout its lifetime, ensuring minimal impact on the surrounding environment and no disturbances to wetlands or waterways. The project has all applicable local, state, and federal permits and certifications.
Before construction, the site underwent a thorough assessment, and best management practices were implemented, including silt fences, sediment basins and buffer zones, to mitigate runoff during the building phase.
Once operational, the site will be stabilized with vegetation, including tall fescue grasses, conservation shade mixes (grasses), and butterfly and hummingbird garden mix (native flowers). Regular monitoring and maintenance will ensure that erosion, stormwater and dust control remain effective for the duration of the project.
What is the impact on area wildlife?
Standard Solar carefully considers the impact on wildlife and biodiversity in all projects to minimize disruption to local ecosystems. Detailed environmental studies are conducted to identify sensitive habitats and species, and to mitigate potential adverse impacts.
Consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources determined that there are no state-listed threatened or endangered species, Illinois Nature Preserves, or registered Land and Water Reserves near the project location. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) identified four endangered species that could potentially occur at the site: the Indiana Bat, the Tricolored Bat, the Monarch Butterfly and the Western Regal Fritillary. Despite this, no critical habitats for these species were found within the project area.
On-Site Survey
A comprehensive site survey conducted by biologists found that the existing vegetation does not provide a suitable habitat for the listed species. Additionally, no eagle nests were identified in the project area, and local bird species, such as the red-headed woodpecker and rusty blackbird, do not breed in March, further minimizing potential impacts. Tree-clearing activities associated with the project will not affect any listed species, bald eagles or migratory birds.
Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Site
The project incorporates several measures to enhance biodiversity and create a wildlife-friendly environment. Bat boxes will be installed along the perimeter to support local bat populations. As part of the site’s pollinator habitat plan, the area will be seeded with native plants that provide food and shelter for bees, beetles, butterflies and birds. Wildlife-friendly fencing and vegetation buffers will be implemented to ensure the safe movement of animals and birds throughout the site. Additionally, ongoing monitoring will be conducted to minimize environmental impact and ensure compliance with biodiversity and ecosystem protection regulations.
Why Are Sheep Used for Grazing Instead of Goats or Cows?
Sheep are the most efficient livestock for grazing solar fields due to their size, grazing behavior, and minimal impact on infrastructure. When sheep graze the site, they benefit from a reliable food source while providing income to their owners and naturally fertilizing the soil. Unlike cattle, sheep are smaller and gentler, allowing them to move through the solar array without damaging the system or harming themselves. In contrast to goats, which can uproot plants and climb structures, sheep leave the root structures intact, ensuring vegetation regrowth, maintaining soil stability and supporting the water cycle. Additionally, goats’ tendency to climb vertical structures poses risks both to their safety and to the integrity of the solar panels, making sheep the ideal choice for vegetation management on solar sites.