Solar Developer Hires Community Rep, Opens Local Office in Tilden

Solar Developer Hires Community Rep, Opens Local Office in Tilden

TILDEN, Illinois – Sol Systems, LLC and Tenaska are developing a 150-megawatt solar project near Tilden in Randolph County that is anticipated to bring substantial economic benefits to the community. To ensure the public has access to information about the Tilden Solar Project, local resident Stephanie Martin has been hired as the community representative and will staff the new project office.

“A local presence is important to the success of a project like Tilden Solar and illustrates our commitment to being part of the Randolph County community,” said Mike Roth, director of project development with Tenaska, which is leading on-the-ground development. “We are glad to have Stephanie Martin on the project team and value her role in ensuring accurate and timely communications with landowners, local leaders and the community.”

Martin is a resident of Randolph County, where she is a small business owner and a board member of The Community Foundation of Randolph County. She works diligently to promote Randolph County as a desirable location to live and work.

Her business experience includes the Prairie du Rocher and French Colonial Historic District, the Southwest Illinois Connector and the Randolph County Progress Committee. Through her work with the Community Foundation, Martin has helped raise money to rebuild the Shelter House in the French Colonial Historic District that was destroyed by fire in 2012.

“Diversifying energy production is a win-win for our communities and Randolph County,” said Martin. “Alternative energy projects, like Tilden Solar, will provide added tax revenue that can shore up local infrastructures, such as schools and emergency services, while reducing the tax burdens.”

Martin can be reached via email at stephanie@tildensolarproject.com or by telephone at 618-505-6069. She is also available at the Tilden Solar Project’s new local office at 550 S. Railroad St., Tilden. Office hours are 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays, 8 a.m.-noon Thursdays and by appointment.

Sol Systems and Tenaska have launched a website with information about the project: https://tildensolarproject.com/.

The Tilden Solar Project will be located on approximately 1,200 acres of land under voluntary agreements with local landowners. The project will comply with all applicable state and local requirements, including Randolph County’s solar energy systems ordinance. On the current timeline, construction is anticipated to being as early as 2023, with operation starting in 2024 and continuing for 35 years.

A project like Tilden Solar is expected to bring landowner lease payments, local tax revenue, construction and operations jobs, and opportunities for local businesses to provide goods and services. An economic impact study has been commissioned to quantify these results.

At the same time, an operating solar project is a quiet neighbor that generates emissions-free electricity with minimal impact on the surrounding area, including no proven health or safety risks, no tall towers or equipment, and no increase in local traffic.

About Tenaska

Tenaska is one of the leading independent energy companies in the United States, with a reputation for high standards and expertise in natural gas and electric power marketing, energy management, development and acquisition of energy assets, and operation of generating facilities. Forbes magazine consistently ranks Tenaska among the 50 largest private U.S. companies. Gross operating revenues were $7.7 billion in 2020.

Tenaska is a 2021 U.S. Best Managed Company, a recognition given by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal to private companies that demonstrate excellence in strategic planning and execution, corporate culture, and financial results.

Tenaska has developed, managed and/or operated approximately 22 gigawatts (GW) of natural gas-fueled and renewables generation. Its development portfolios include approximately 22 GW of solar, wind and energy storage projects. The current Tenaska operating fleet includes 7.5 GW of generating facilities.

More information is available at www.tenaska.com. Connect with Tenaska on LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Sol Systems

Sol Systems is a leading national solar energy firm with an established reputation for integrity and reliability across its development, infrastructure, and environmental commodity businesses. To date, Sol has developed and/or financed over 1 GW of solar projects valued at more than $1 billion for Fortune 100 companies, municipalities, counties, utilities, universities, and schools and provides services to nearly 17,000 customers across the US. The company was founded in 2008, is based in Washington, D.C., and is led by its founder. Sol Systems works with its team, partners, and clients to create a more sustain able future we can all believe in. For more information, visit https://www.solsystems.com.