A plan for a $15 million nearly five-megawatt solar farm was presented to the Marion County Board’s Community Relations Committee Tuesday night. It will be located off Community Beach Road one mile east of U.S. 51 north of Centralia. President and CEO of MW Solar Generation Pete Yannokokis says the project is part of Ameren’s Community Solar systems.
“As far as the surveys, permitting, and all the required reports and studies that need to be done engineering-wise, we are complete and ready for a special use permit,” Yannokokis said.
Yannokokis says there will be screening of the 22-acre farm with 10,500 solar panels that will continue to align themselves with the sun for maximum solar projection.
He says the solar farm should not be a noise issue for neighbors.
“Over a matter of weeks, the biggest noise will be driving the pylons into the ground. Other than that, it’s assembly-type stuff. There will be equipment running, but it won’t be very disruptive at all.”
The plan will be the first reviewed by the county under its new solar and wind ordinance. The county still has to find a consultant to review the application. Yannokokis was concerned when told the process could take a few months. Committee members quickly said they would try to move more quickly.
Yannokokis is hoping to break ground in November with completion in six to twelve months.
Under the new ordinance, the developer will pay the cost of the review and be granted a special use permit once it is approved.
