Attending Thursday’s ribbon cutting for Earthrise Energy’s area solar farms are, from left, Roger Cramer, owner of Ropp’s Flower Factory, which provided landscaping for the Gibson City project; Steve Kelly, chief executive officer of One Earth Energy; and Gibson City Mayor Dan Dickey. Mindy Basi/Ford County Chronicle
GIBSON CITY — Earthrise Energy hosted a ribbon cutting event on Thursday, Sept. 25, to celebrate the start of operation of one of two 135-megawatt solar farms it has built in the area.
Thursday’s invitation-only event was held at the site of the newly operational solar farm — previously known as the “Gibson City Energy Center Solar 1” project — northeast of Saybrook in Cheney’s Grove Township in eastern McLean County.
Like the McLean County solar farm, the second project being built 1 1/2 miles northwest of Gibson City in Drummer Township — previously known as the “Gibson City Energy Center Solar 2” project — comprises about 1,257 acres of farmland. Once operational — which is expected to be soon — it would be Ford County’s first solar farm.
Together, the two solar farms owned by Arlington, Va.-based Earthrise Energy are now being called Archtop Solar. At a combined cost of $430 million, the two solar farms are projected to provide more than $50 million in tax revenue to taxing bodies in Ford and McLean counties — including $23.9 million to those in Ford County alone — over their 35-year life spans, in addition to creating an estimated 300 union jobs during construction and a couple of dozen longterm jobs during operations.
Earthrise Energy project team members and executives join state leaders in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. Mindy Basi/Ford County Chronicle
Earthrise Energy expects Archtop Solar to be fully operational by spring 2026.
The power generated will feed into existing infrastructure at Earthrise Energy’s Gibson City Energy Center natural gas peaker plant, which it has been operating since 2021 at the Jordan Industrial Park. By utilizing the existing infrastructure, the two solar farms can expedite getting connected to the grid, noted Cliff Sekors, Earthrise Energy’s vice president of regulatory strategy and policy.
“This type of project usually sits in line for seven years waiting for approval,” said Sekors said. “There are just two computers running models to see when power plants can connect to the grid. By co-locating solar with existing gas facilities, we got a ‘free pass’ and were able to accelerate the plan.”
Sekors emphasized the importance of moving quickly to provide energy.
“We can’t wait in line,” Sekors noted. “We don’t have the time. We don’t have the pocketbooks. Now, we have the privilege of serving customers here for many years.”
Tayla Taylor, Earthrise Energy’s director of community engagement, called Thursday’s ribbon-cutting event a “huge milestone for us.”
“We see this project not just as energy development, but as an investment in our neighbors,” Taylor said. “From Day 1, we’ve been committed to Gibson City’s future — creating new jobs, tax revenue and providing direct support for schools and community services. We’re here for the long haul.”
Ellie Ginis, the project’s lead developer, praised the collaboration between Earthrise Energy and the community.
“This project represents progress and collaboration,” Ginis said. “It has been a pleasure working with people who care deeply about their community and who value both sustainability and growth. The model for energy and local development go hand in hand. This project shows what’s possible when developers and a community work together with a shared vision.”
As part of its community involvement, Earthrise Energy has given $350,650 in support to local groups and causes in Ford and McLean counties. In 2025, the company’s RISE Grant program awarded 35 grants and 55 sponsorships, with grant recipients including CRIS Healthy Aging, Standing Stone Food Pantry, Restoration Farms, the Eastern Illinois Food Bank, the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school district toward a new playground at its elementary school, and Gibson City toward the installation of electricity at the William Eugene Campbell Memorial Park.
Gibson City Mayor Dan Dickey praised his relationship with the energy company.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Earthrise Energy since they purchased the electric generation plant in Jordan Industrial Park,” Dickey said. “Although the solar farms are located in Ford and Mclean counties, it has created an economic impact that is very beneficial for our community. The grant to install power at the park will benefit our residents. I believe other entities in Gibson City received grants, as well. I look forward to working with Earthrise Energy in the future.”
Illinois lawmakers attending Thursday’s ceremony celebrated the solar farms as progress toward the state’s ambitious clean-energy goals under the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act of 2021, which mandates a transition away from energy produced by coal and gas and toward carbon-free energy production by 2045.
“A lot of people still think climate change is a hoax, or that solar is a scam. They’d be wrong,” said state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria. “This is a day of celebration. When the sun is shining, nothing can compete with solar. This project proves we’re on the right path.”
State Sen. Chris Balkema, R-Emington, noted the growing demand for electricity, especially as artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing increase the state’s power needs.
“Illinois has to install 2.5 gigawatts of clean energy every year to meet our climate goals,” Balkema said. “Illinois is a great state. We have a ton of energy and enthusiasm. We want to become and continue to be an exporter of energy. We need a whole bunch more projects like this. Leadership can overcome the challenges and connect everyone who wants to be connected to the grid. We partner with companies and build infrastructure with unions to make that happen.”
Doug Scott, chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, thanked the Illinois General Assembly for doing the work needed to help make projects like this happen.
“There are challenges in Washington with the tax credits, but this project is really positive,” Scott said. “This is the kind of project we envisioned when we passed CEJA. The work done by the legislation with the Great Plains Institute and with the help of Mary Hanahan is exactly the kind of project we were thinking about to ramp up renewable energy. The vision came together with the community. This is the fruit of that legislation.”
Jeff Hunter, Earthrise Energy’s president and chief executive officer, said the ribbon cutting was just the beginning.
“This is our first ribbon cutting in Illinois — but not our last,” Hunter said. “We’ve invested over a billion dollars in capital investments across the state, which will provide quite a few jobs. We follow through on our commitments to give money and engage with communities. We want to be good neighbors and provide good stewardship for the state’s resources. We move quickly compared to our rivals because of the joint operation of thermal and solar. We could not have picked a better place than Ford and McLean counties to continue growing.”