Earthrise Energy has secured regulatory approval for its proposed 600-MW Pride of the Prairie solar project in Illinois, marking a major step forward in the company’s renewable energy expansion strategy in the US Midwest.
The Will County Board approved a special use permit for the large-scale solar development, which will be located near Earthrise Energy’s Lincoln gas-fired power plant in Manhattan, Illinois. The project is expected to utilize existing transmission infrastructure connected to the thermal facility, enabling faster grid integration and reducing interconnection-related delays.
Spread across nearly 6,100 acres, the Pride of the Prairie project is set to become one of the largest solar installations in Illinois. The company said the development will support regional clean energy goals while strengthening long-term electricity reliability in the Midwest market.
Earthrise Energy is also advancing the 260-MW Plum Valley Solar project in the same county. Together, both projects are expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 110,000 homes annually.
According to project estimates, the Pride of the Prairie development could contribute nearly USD 80 million in tax revenues over its operational lifespan while supporting significant employment opportunities during construction and operations. Local trade organizations estimate that close to 1,000 construction jobs could be created during the development phase.
The project reflects a broader industry trend in which renewable energy developers are repurposing transmission capacity from existing fossil fuel assets to accelerate renewable deployment and reduce grid bottlenecks.
Earthrise Energy currently operates around 1.7 GW of gas-fired generation assets while simultaneously developing a renewable energy pipeline exceeding 1.7 GW across the United States.
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