Proposed Solar Farm Near 36th and Harrison in Early Development Stage
QUINCY, Ill. — A new solar project is being proposed near the Quincy area, adding another development to the growing local discussion surrounding large-scale solar installations and where they should be located.
The Harrison Street Solar project is being developed by Solar Provider Group and is currently described by the company as a proposed 5-megawatt community solar farm spanning approximately 25 acres just outside Quincy. According to project information released by the developer, the facility is expected to have the capacity to generate electricity equivalent to the needs of approximately 1,209 households.
The proposed site is in the vicinity of 36th Street and Harrison Street near LifePoint Church and Denman Elementary school, an area where residential development and agricultural land meet on Quincy’s southeast side.
The project remains in the early development and planning phase, meaning the final design, permitting requirements, construction schedule and ultimate approval of the development remain subject to the applicable review process.
Solar Provider Group says the facility would operate quietly once construction is completed and would incorporate natural vegetation, native grasses and a vegetative screening barrier around the solar array. The company says those measures are intended to reduce erosion, support wildlife habitat and help shield the facility from surrounding properties.
The developer estimates the project could operate for approximately 35 to 40 years, after which the solar equipment would be removed and the property restored to agricultural standards under the project’s required decommissioning plan. Solar Provider Group also says the project would generate tax revenue, create construction and operational jobs and contribute approximately $500,000 toward utility infrastructure improvements.
The proposal has already generated concern among some nearby residents, including questions about what a commercial-scale solar installation could mean for the character of the surrounding area and potential impacts on neighboring property values.
Those concerns are not occurring in isolation.
Solar development has become an increasingly significant issue around Quincy. Other proposed solar projects in and around the city have produced substantial public discussion over zoning, proximity to residences, views, property values and whether large solar facilities belong near established neighborhoods. In previous Quincy-area solar proceedings, residents have specifically raised concerns about potential decreases in property values and the visual impact of solar arrays near homes.
Those concerns do not establish that the Harrison Street project would necessarily reduce surrounding property values, but they are likely to become part of the public discussion as the project moves farther through the development process.
Solar Provider Group states that it encourages nearby residents to ask questions and provide feedback throughout the planning process.
For anyone interested in reviewing the developer’s description of the Harrison Street Solar project, additional details can be found directly through Solar Provider Group:
https://www.solarprovidergroup.com/…/harrison-street-solar
The Harrison Street project is still in its early stages, but it appears likely to become another piece of that larger community conversation.
