SPG IL – Green River Solar Project
Yorktown, Henry County, Illinois
The SPG IL – Green River Solar Project, located in Yorktown, Henry County, Illinois, is set to provide around 4.14 megawatts (MWdc) of renewable energy yearly in Illinois. This project will contribute to the State’s goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050.
Spanning 20 acres, more than 6,960 modules of this single-axis tracker solar array are expected to produce approximately 6,530.40 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable energy annually, meeting the growing demand for sustainable electricity in the region and strengthening the reliability of the Illinois electricity mix. In doing so, it will offset up to 2,300 metric tons of CO₂ each year.
This project will be a Community Solar Garden, which aims to expand access to solar energy for Illinois residents who cannot afford or do not have the space to install solar panels in their own properties while cutting the cost of their electricity bills.
The project will contribute to the local economy by creating construction jobs and generating long-term economic value through increased tax revenue, community investments and agrivoltaics opportunities, including agricultural dual use and solar grazing. Construction will begin in October 2025, with operations expected to start by June 2026, marking an important step toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for all people in Illinois.
Energy generation in agricultural land: Agrivoltaics and solar grazing.
Agrivoltaics, or dual-use solar, refers to projects that integrate agricultural production with solar photovoltaic electricity generation. A growing example is solar grazing, where livestock maintain vegetation around the panels. These innovative practices are gaining traction nationwide as a way to maximize land use and deliver multiple community benefits.
The SPG IL – Green River includes a pollinator habitat management plan. Vegetated grounds contribute to stable foundations by preventing erosion and increasing soil permeability. Planting native and pollinator-friendly plants supports biodiversity by providing food for local species, including bats, birds and insects.
The system has also been designed with sufficient space to plant pollinator gardens along the perimeter and between the modules. The seed mix contains only plant species native to Illinois and will allow for different plants to bloom and bear fruit throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons, providing food for pollinators between April and October. Additionally, the site has been designed so farmers can safely grow crops in the area. The land in between the rows of panels is expected to yield more than 300,000 lbs. of food per year.
The project will use sheep grazing as a natural solution for vegetation management, reducing panel shading and lowering fire risk during the summer months while eliminating the need for mechanical mowing or herbicides. By supporting long-term contracts with local farmers, Standard Solar creates new economic opportunities in the community while ensuring the site is maintained sustainably.
The panels are elevated and spaced to allow sheep to move safely and comfortably throughout the array. As they graze, the sheep leave root systems intact and naturally fertilize the soil, promoting healthier regrowth and enhancing the land’s long-term productivity. This approach demonstrates the value of agrivoltaics—integrating clean energy production with agricultural use to maximize land benefits for both people and the environment.
Benefits
Economic Impact
The project will create local construction jobs during its build phase, strengthening the regional workforce. Once operational, it will contract local farmers to graze sheep and produce crops, supporting sustainable agriculture. Beyond immediate job creation and rent payments, it will deliver lasting economic value by expanding the tax base, funding essential services and improving infrastructure. By driving economic growth while investing in renewable energy, the SPG IL – Green River project underscores a commitment to both environmental sustainability and community prosperity, making it a long-term asset for Henry County’s future.
Clean Energy Impact
Solar panels do not emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and they do not pollute the surrounding environment. By producing approximately 6,530 megawatt hours (MWh) of sustainable electricity annually, it will provide a reliable source of carbon-free power to the Illinois grid. Using the EPA equivalencies calculator, this project would produce enough electricity to power 700 U.S. homes annually.
Offsets
The project is expected to displace approximate 2,300 tCO2e (Metric tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent) annually, based on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Dataset on Default Grid Factors for International Financial Institutions (IFI). Using the EPA equivalencies calculator, the carbon displaced from not burning fossil fuels would be equivalent to the carbon absorbed by more than 5,500 acres of U.S. forests in a year (an area larger than 3,700 football fields).
Location
Yorktown, Henry County, Illinois
Project Size
4.14 megawatts (MWdc)
Timeline to operation
Construction will begin in October 2025, with operations expected to start by June 2026.
The SPG IL – Green River project will generate approximately 6,530 megawatt hours of renewable energy annually, offsetting up to 2,300 metric tons of CO₂ each year while helping Illinois move toward its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050.
Designed as a Community Solar Garden with integrated agrivoltaics, the project will feature pollinator-friendly habitats, crop production expected to exceed 300,000 lbs. of food per year, and sheep grazing that supports local farmers while maintaining vegetation sustainably.
Location
Located in Yorktown, Henry County, Illinois, the Green River Community Solar Garden is designed with integrated agrivoltaics. The project features pollinator-friendly habitats, crop production expected to exceed 300,000 lbs. of food each year, and sheep grazing that supports local farmers while maintaining vegetation sustainably, maximizing land benefits for the region.
Economic Impact
- The project will generate local construction jobs during the build phase, strengthening the regional workforce.
- Once operational, the site will contract local farmers for sheep grazing and crop production, supporting agrivoltaics and community farming.
- By contributing to the local tax base, the project will fund essential services and infrastructure, driving lasting economic growth for Henry County.
Goodwill Industries, VA, 0.5 MWdc
Port Newark Container Terminal, NJ, 3.29 MWdc
Clean Energy Impact
- Generates about 6,530 MWh of carbon-free electricity annually for the Illinois grid.
- Offsets greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuel generation.
- Produces enough electricity to power roughly 700 U.S. homes each year.
Offsets
- Displaces approximately 2,300 metric tons of CO₂ each year.
- Matches the carbon absorbed by more than 5,500 acres of U.S. forests annually.
- Equal to preserving an area larger than 3,700 football fields.
Carver, MA, 2.8 MWdc
Project Location
Where is the SPG IL – Green River Solar Project located and is it visible from public roads?
The SPG IL – Green River Solar Project is in the Township of Yorktown, Henry County, Illinois.
The project is not visible from public roads as the project is built on rural and private land.
Who owns the land on which the SPG IL – Green River Solar Project is built?
The SPG IL – Green River 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 25 years, once the project is operational.
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 SPG IL – Green River 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 has a decommissioning plan in place to safely remove equipment, restore the land to its original state, and recycle materials like glass, metal, and silicon from the solar panels. Such programs allow Standard Solar to minimize waste, prevent any burdens to 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 80 dB) sound when converting solar energy into electricity, but this noise is minimal and typically only noticeable when close to the equipment (less than 10 feet). Overall, solar projects are a clean, quiet and community-friendly energy solution.
Since solar panels rely on the sun to generate electricity, meaning the system is silent during the night-time.
Will the project produce glare?
The design of solar projects, including this one, minimizes the potential for glare. Solar panels are specifically engineered to absorb sunlight, not reflect it, as their primary function is to convert sunlight into electricity. Modern panels are coated with anti-reflective materials to further reduce any reflection. Additionally, projects undergo detailed studies and modeling during the planning phase to ensure they do not create glare that could affect nearby residents, drivers, aviation, and wildlife.
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 native vegetation, including blooming grasses and fruiting shrubs, providing food and shelter to pollinators between April and October, and securing the soil with their root systems. 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 USFWS
- The Illinois Department of Natural Resources found no State-listed threatened or endangered species, Illinois Nature Preserves, or registered Land and Water Reserves in the vicinity of the project location.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) identified four endangered species that could potentially occur at the site: the Indiana Bat and the Monarch Butterfly.
- However, no critical habitats were found within the project area given that the site is an agricultural field
On-site survey
- Biologists surveyed the site and found that current plants do not provide suitable habitats for the listed species.
- There is no tree clearing planned at the site, leaving bald eagles or migratory birds undisturbed.
Creating a wildlife-friendly site
- Bat boxes will be installed along the perimeter.
- Under the site’s pollinator habitat plan, the site will be seeded with plants that will provide food and habitat for bees, beetles, butterflies and birds should they occur on the site.
- Wildlife-friendly fencing and vegetation buffers will be used to allow the safe movement of animals and birds.
- The site will be monitored to ensure minimal impact and compliance with biodiversity and ecosystem protection regulations.
- The site has implemented an agrivoltaics plan that aims to boost agricultural production while generating clean energy. With 50% of the land designated to grow crops between solar panels, it is expected to yield more than 300,000 lbs. of produce each year.
Why are sheep on the site? Why not goats? Or cows?
Sheep are proven to be the most efficient livestock to graze solar fields for several reasons.
- When sheep graze the solar field, they get fed, provide income to their owners and directly fertilize the soil.
- Sheep, unlike cattle, are smaller and gentler, allowing them to navigate the system with ease. This minimizes the risk of them bumping into system components, which could harm the animals and the infrastructure.
- Sheep, unlike goats, leave the plant’s root structure intact, allowing plants to grow back again. This helps keep the site vegetated for a longer time, enables the water cycle, and holds the soil together which contributes to preventing erosion.
- Additionally, goats tend to like to climb vertical surfaces, which can be harmful for their health and the integrity of the solar panels.