New solar farm in Oregon, Illinois will not only generate energy, but store it

OREGON, Ill. (WTVO) — A new community solar project, Ducks Solar, was inaugurated in Oregon, Illinois, marking a significant step in renewable energy development.

The 32-acre solar farm not only collects solar power but also stores it, allowing energy to be used during peak demand times. This innovative approach provides participants with credits on their monthly electric bills, making clean energy more accessible and affordable.

“Batteries and energy storage are answers to provide clean energy at night,” said Shawn Mobley, President and Chief Operating Officer of U.S. Clean Energy. “So, we over produce clean energy during the day. We store it in batteries during the day and when the sun goes down, from say 4 to 5 pm until 8 or 9 at night, the batteries kick on. So, it’s an extended use of clean energy which is a gamechanger in what clean energy can do.”

Equity Solar Illinois, the organization behind Ducks Solar, aims to support over 1,300 homes annually with the energy produced by the solar farm. This project is part of a broader effort to enhance renewable energy infrastructure in the region.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WTVO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WTVO staff before being published.