Solar farm proposed in Geneva

A developer has proposed building a solar energy farm in southeastern Geneva.

The city’s plan commission will review a concept for the site when it meets at 7 p.m. Thursday in the council chambers at city hall, 109 James St.

OneEnergy Renewables wants to put about 6,576 fixed-tilt photovoltaic panels on the 13-acre site at 1203 E. Fabyan Parkway. The site is just west of Kirk Road.

If the city approves it, OneEnergy Renewables would lease the site for 30 years and participate in the Illinois Power Agency’s “Illinois Shines” program.

Electricity generated by the panels would be fed to ComEd lines. The city would not directly receive any of the electricity, because it has its own electric utility and is not eligible to participate in “Illinois Shines,” according to a memo to the plan commission.

The city annexed the site in 2024 and gave a developer permission to build a 156,000-square-foot speculative industrial building on it. The approval expires in February.