Buffalo Solar Farm

Project Introduction

Buffalo Solar is a 116 MWac capacity solar project currently under development in Grundy County, IL.

Buffalo Solar will be located on agricultural-zoned parcels in Norman Township. It is comprised of 16 parcels and totals approximately 960 acres.

The Project consists of the construction and operation of a photovoltaic (PV) electricity- generating facility and associated infrastructure. Solar energy is a clean and reliable energy source that does not produce carbon emissions or other pollutants.  The Project will consist of more than 275,000 solar panels, 29 power conversion stations, a substation and a switchyard.

Buffalo Solar is expected to enter commercial operations in December 2025 and will be a valuable source of stable tax revenue for Grundy County throughout its 30+ year lifespan.

Status: In development

Site location

Buffalo Solar Farm | Site location

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Facts & figures

00 megawatts-ac

Capacity

00 acres

Size

More than $ 00 M

in property tax revenue to the community over the life of the project

00

construction positions and 3-4 permanent position

~ 00 acre

Wooded Areas Cleared

00 feet

of perimeter landscaping, including approximately 550 cedar trees, 770 plum trees, and 1,100 bushes

00 points

Illinois Pollinator Habitat Score

Over 00

homes powered¹

Up to $ 00 million

in public health benefits¹

1 Homes powered and pollution reductions from https://www.epa.gov/avert/avert-web-edition, public health benefits derived using COBRA health database https://cobra.app.cloud.gov/.

Project Benefits

Supporting Communities

Buffalo Solar will provide millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to Grundy County and local taxing districts. This new source of public funding can reduce the tax burden on local residents and be used to support essential services including schools, roads, fire departments and first responders.

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Supporting Communities
Support Rural Economies

Hundreds of jobs will be created during construction, offering opportunities for residents to enter the rapidly expanding clean energy workforce. Local businesses will see an economic boom as demand for lodging, restaurants, supplies, vehicle maintenance, and fuel increases throughout the 9-12 months of construction. During operations, 3-4 permanent positions will be created to operate Buffalo Solar Farm, and the project will continue to source supplies from local businesses. There will be more than $20M in property tax revenue to Grundy County over the life of the project.

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Support Rural Economies

Stronger Electric Grid

Stronger Electric Grid
Stronger Electric Grid

Solar energy has become one of the most affordable and reliable sources of electricity available today. Solar farms increase the resiliency of Illinois’s electric grid while protecting consumers from the volatility and rising costs of traditional energy sources.

Protecting the Environment and the Community

Buffalo Solar will be designed to complement existing agricultural land uses, protect the soil, and avoid negative impacts to wildlife. Solar farms produce electricity without generating any pollution, resulting in cleaner air and water when compared to traditional power plants.

Comprehensive studies are required as part of the planning and permitting process to protect public safety and the environment. Buffalo Solar will be virtually silent outside the fence line, while setbacks and vegetative screening will minimize visual impacts. An analysis was commissioned to confirm that there will not be a glare impact on neighbors and nearby roadways.

Protecting the Environment and the Community - Buffalo Solar Farm | RWE

Buffalo Solar will use silicon-based PV panels, which are made of safe, well-tested materials commonly used in building and household products. The panels are fully sealed and extremely durable, preventing trace metals from escaping into the surrounding soil. PV solar panels are so safe that millions of families across the U.S. have put solar panels on their homes and literally sleep beneath them. RWE’s  advanced remote operations center will monitor the panels 24/7, 365 days a year while the onsite operations team will be available to respond in the unlikely event of an emergency. 

Buffalo Solar has commissioned a vegetation management plan to ensure that the potential for soil erosion from construction and operations is mitigated.  The plan also ensures the long-term stability of the soil.  The plan provides for landscape screening at key areas along the project boundary using native vegetation.

Buffalo Solar is obliged and incentivized to repair any drain tile damage that occurs as a result of construction.  A drain tile field survey is being performed prior to construction.

At the end of Buffalo Solar’s useful life, equipment, foundations and electrical collection systems will be removed and the land will be restored to its original condition.  A decommissioning security is to be maintained with Grundy County to ensure the completion of this work.

Schedule Overview

Schedule Overview | Buffalo Solar Farm

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