Illinois General Assembly Passes Vistra’s Coal to Solar & Energy Storage Act

It’s a new day in Illinois. After years of planning and compromise, the state’s General Assembly passed SB 2408, the Energy Transition Act, an omnibus energy package that incorporated Vistra’s legislative priority known as the Coal to Solar & Energy Storage Act.

The framework allows the company to build and operate up to 300 MW of utility-scale solar and 150 MW of battery energy storage facilities at nine retired or to-be-retired coal plant sites across central and southern Illinois.

An economic impact study commissioned by Vistra estimated that the nine-site program would create more than 2,200 full-time jobs, generate over $180 million in earnings for workers and add over $300 million to the state’s economic output from 2022 to 2025.

Vistra estimates it will invest over $550 million to build the Coal to Solar & Energy Storage Act portfolio in Illinois. Pending all necessary regulatory and local approvals, Vistra intends to construct six combined utility-scale solar and battery energy storage sites and three stand-alone battery energy storage sites.

As passed, the legislation would support Vistra’s development of the following projects:

Combined Utility-Scale Solar & Battery Energy Storage Sites:

  • Baldwin, 68 MW Solar, 9 MW Battery Energy Storage
  • Coffeen, 44 MW Solar, 6 MW Battery Energy Storage
  • Duck Creek, 20 MW Solar, 3 MW Battery Energy Storage
  • Hennepin, 50 MW Solar, 6 MW Battery Energy Storage
  • Kincaid, 60 MW Solar, 8 MW Battery Energy Storage
  • Newton, 52 MW Solar, 7 MW Battery Energy Storage

 

Stand-Alone Battery Energy Storage Sites, at plant sites that did not have the characteristics to support utility-scale solar development:

  • Edwards, 37 MW Battery Energy Storage
  • Havana, 37 MW Battery Energy Storage
  • EEI/Joppa, 37 MW Battery Energy Storage

 

Vistra anticipates several projects beginning to enter commercial service starting in 2023, and all projects are expected to enter commercial service by 2025.

More information about the Illinois Coal to Solar & Energy Storage proposal is accessible at www.renewillinoispower.com.