--  Iroquois County site included --

An Iroquois County site near Watseka is one of 34 locations chosen in the Illinois Power Agency lottery for solar-farm projects.  A 2-megawatt farm, approved earlier by the Iroquois County Board, is at 1910 County Road 1980 E just outside Watseka. The site is on Watseka's southwest side.

Watseka's location is one of just five area "community solar" projects that are winners in the Illinois Power Agency lottery held in Chicago Wednesday. Reports indicate 10 percent of the nearly 1,000 proposals grabbed the renewable-energy credits through the Future Energy Jobs Act.

Otzher sites chosen inclide two in Vermilion County, outside Ridge Farm, and another in a field near Danville Correctional Center.  A Champaign County site approved is near Sidney.

All sites still need approval by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Officials say the 2-megawatt solar farms typically use about 15-20 acres of land. "Community solar" projects provide access to solar power to residents who can't install arrays on their roof tops. 

94.1 WGFA