Solar farm proposed for Kendall County

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

In a dramatic shift from 2007, when landfills were proposed in this county rich with untapped land, a new idea, in a new industry, has now been pitched for a portion of unincorporated Kendall County.

Two Illinois businessmen who are pairing as a joint venture are proposing what they say is a clean and green boon to the towns of Oswego and Yorkville.

WCP Solar Services of Naperville and Renewable Energy Services LLC of DeKalb are proposing a 700-megawatt solar energy farm possibly on land bounded by Route 126 and Grove, Schlapp and Wheeler roads. It would stretch across 2,500 acres, cover four square miles in both Oswego and Yorkville, and have the potential to power at least 200,000 homes when fully developed.

If approved by the municipalities, this could be the largest solar energy system in the world. So far, the largest solar energy plant is a 150-megawatt system in Spain.

Kendall County is already considered one of the nation’s fastest-growing counties. But if this massive, $3.5 billion project is given the green light, it could very well become among the most well-known areas in the world.

Towns took lead

The developers didn’t pitch this solar farm on a whim, however. Kendall County leaders keen to the green industry requested information from some of the area’s premier solar power experts.

It began with a conversation between Oswego Village President Brian LeClercq and a financial colleague, Todd Hunter of PNC Bank. Hunter explained PNC frequently funds solar energy projects. LeClercq wanted to learn more.

In October, LeClercq invited Hunter and Thomas Blalock of Renewable Energy Services to his office. Blalock is a solar panel and system distributor and a former ComEd engineer who designed the security program of the utility’s Clinton plant.

Everton Walters of WCP Solar Services in Naperville has been a consultant to PNC Bank on its solar projects for two years. He has worked in solar energy for nearly 30 years, installing systems all over the world. In October, Walters’ company installed the largest residential solar roof system in Illinois — a 13.6 kilowatt system on a home in Homer Glen in Will County.

A few meetings later, LeClercq brought Yorkville Mayor Valerie Burd on board. The developers presented their plan at an Oswego ECO Commission meeting earlier this month. The project is still an idea on paper, but LeClercq and Burd see the potential of it — as a revenue stream and a place that could create jobs for decades.

The two towns would own the plant and are expected to generate $100 million annually at the end of the 10-year installation. While the project will be completed in phases, revenue will be streaming from it within seven months of its approval, according to Walters.

LeClercq said Friday he is “cautiously optimistic” about the proposal, and added discussions are in their infancy. LeClercq, who has long been interested in green initiatives for his village, said he wants to make certain that solar energy is the best energy source for the area. He had recently been looking into wind energy, he said, because the land could still be used for agriculture.

The developers also said that a minimum of 5,000 jobs would be created if and when installation begins. LeClercq said he needs to make sure the jobs are sustainable, not temporary.

“It all starts with a good idea, and right now they have a good idea,” he said.

“It needs to be vetted. The numbers have to prove up as well. I’m not just going to say ‘yes, let’s do it.’ We need to have different people looking at this — engineers, environmentalists, the numbers, all of those things need to line up,” LeClercq said.

He added, “They may give us best-case scenario, but I want worst-case scenario.”

New industry, new future

The payoff for Oswego and Yorkville comes from purchase agreements signed with certified energy suppliers. Illinois Certified Suppliers like ComEd, Blue Star Energy or Champion Energy LLC, to name a few, could buy the energy at negotiable rates.

Walters said the rates of purchase agreements could range from 10 to 20 cents per kilowatt hour. ComEd, for example, is currently paying 10 cents per kilowatt hour for its power.

The need for alternative energy continues to become more important in Illinois and across the country.

Currently, the nation’s energy source breakdown is 48 percent natural gas, 25 percent coal, 12 percent hydro-electric, 7 percent petroleum, 4 percent nuclear, 3 percent wind and less than 1 percent other, which includes solar, according to the developer’s presentation.

Globally, solar energy plants are active in Canada, China, Germany and Spain, where the largest farm currently exists. In Israel, 90 percent of homes have solar water heaters.

ComEd and Ameren, for example, are now required by Illinois law to produce about 6 percent of their power from solar sources by 2015. Passed in August, the law requires the utilities to shift 0.5 percent of their power to solar energy by June 2012.

Federal, state money

Possibly the biggest benefit of all: developers say it would be of no cost to taxpayers. Federal and state grants would cover the project, which would cost $3.5 billion over the 10-year installation.

Walters, who has built the largest residential rooftop solar plant in Illinois, said Phase I would include five megawatts, which would power 1,500 homes. In Phase II, the developers would add 50 megawatts over 14 months, which would power 15,000 homes. In 10 years, the 700-megawatt plant would power 200,000 homes.

In those 10 years, Walters said, he expects more industry and business to be created as a result of the solar plant. Walters and Blalock also said the proposed plant could attract manufacturers and distributors of solar panels to the Fox Valley region, thus providing more jobs.

Revenue source

Of course, Oswego and Yorkville must still agree to pay an entity to manage the energy plant from construction to operation. And in this case, Walters and Blalock hope to jointly be that entity.

“I think it sounds exciting and innovative. We’re looking forward to learning more about it,” Yorkville’s Burd said Friday.

“Residents have been taxed enough. No matter what, we need to work on better revenue streams,” she said.

Burd added that the proposed solar plant would be a good addition to the area, unlike past projects that have come through the town.

In comparison, at least one proposed landfill was expected to generate $4 million annually for the city of Yorkville. The legal fees associated with landfill proposals have mounted to more than $1 million for the city, and some issues are still working through the court system.

But Burd is also aware there may be naysayers to the project.

“There’s always a certain group that doesn’t like change. They’re going to be against it. I expect a group of naysayers, but I hope there will be a lot of people who see possibilities,” she said.

New technology

The developers tout this as a project that would pay for itself. The funding is available for green projects at the federal level, but it’s a matter of getting that funding released, Blalock said. His job is to get legislators on board and help push the project forward.

Walters added: “The solar industry is relatively small right now. I’m the only one in this area. You have a couple smaller ones sputtering all over the place, but of significance I’m the only one in this area.”

“It’s not a question of whether we can do it. We can do what we need to do,” Walters added.

Going forward, there are two sides both towns will need to consider — being open to the idea of it creating prosperity, but ultimately exercising caution and vigilance.

“There’s going to be a lot of work to be done. This is a new technology. We have our work cut out for us,” LeClercq said.