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MOLINE, Ill. — Moline has been planning a community solar project for almost five years now. City Council heard a presentation on the latest version of the project Monday night.
The project would go on city-owned land south of the Quad Cities International Airport. It’s currently being leased to farm corn. The solar farm would cover 25 acres with a five megawatt capacity.
“We’re ready to make progress,” City Administrator Bob Vitas said.
Initial plans would have the city take out a bond to build a solar farm, but this proposal includes a land lease program. That means a developer would build the farm at its own expense and pay the city to use the land for up to 40 years.
“The cost to the city is our time and our energy. There is zero investment on the part of the city,” Vitas said.
The city and qualified residents can “subscribe” to the solar farm for a 10-15% savings off their electric bills. But money isn’t the only thing the project could save.
“We’re going to be looking at that 25 acres being part of a large pollinator garden, so to speak,” Vitas said.
The city would require the developer to include native plants under the solar panels.
“And since we’re a Bee City it only makes sense,” Vitas said.
Sheep could help trim back the plants too.
“Something has to eat the pollinators at some point, right?” Vitas said.
While the project as proposed is limited to 5 MW by MidAmerican’s grid, there’s plenty of room for future expansion.
Vitas said it all ties into the city’s master plan to go as green as it can.
“As far as the city goes, how we are contributing to protecting the environment in the long term,” Vitas said.
If it can save money along the way, even better.
Monday night was just a presentation for City Council. Details like the developer contract still need to be hashed out before it can be approved by Council. Vitas expects construction to start next year, and the farm to turn on by 2027.
