Im guessing on June 28th:
mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=435644&query=solar farm
Invenergy gives La Salle County a look for solar power
Share 06/28/2011, 11:31 pm
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Derek Barichello, derekb@mywebtimes.com, 815-673-6372
Solar energy could be the next resource tapped in La Salle County.
Invenergy this week confirmed its interest in the area when a spokeswoman from the Chicago-based solar and wind company told The Times the Streator enterprise zone is one of the enterprise zones the company is evaluating for its Illinois Solar Project.
In December, Invenergy agreed to provide solar energy for Commonwealth Edison at an undisclosed Illinois location, intending for it to be one of the largest solar installations in the state.
The company already operates a wind energy farm just east of Grand Ridge and agreed to generate energy for ComEd at that location as well.
Kevin Myers, superintendent of Streator Township High School, announced at a school board meeting in May the group looked at purchasing 160 acres between Ottawa and Streator for the development of solar energy. Invenergy would use photovoltaics to generate solar energy. converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors.
Paul Nicholson, Streator city manager, also confirmed an energy company spoke with the city about utilizing its enterprise zone for solar power.
Myers said if Invenergy builds in the Streator taxing district, the company intends to abate 100 percent of school district taxes through enterprise zone abatement. In compensation, the company would pay STHS a sharing agreement fee equivalent to 50 percent of the taxes it would pay if the abatement did not exist.
This would benefit both parties because Invenergy would not have to pay as much in taxes, and STHS would not decrease its general state aid funding by increasing its property tax intake.
This is similar to an agreement STHS made with Iberdrola Renewables for wind farm construction.
The would-be benefit to the STHS district is estimated at about $2.2 million through 2027.
"This could be a win-win for both parties," Myers said. "But all of this is pending the building site being located in the Streator enterprise zone, which is still undecided."
