From Coal Country to Clean Energy
Developers have given a historic coal mining site in southern Illinois a new purpose by transforming it into a large-scale solar farm. The project shows how communities can repurpose former fossil fuel infrastructure for the clean energy era. Sol Systems developed the Tilden Solar Project on land above an abandoned coal mine whose industrial history stretches back nearly 150 years.
Located in Randolph County, the project spans more than 1,000 acres of previously mined land. Instead of extracting coal from beneath the ground, the site now produces renewable electricity through thousands of solar panels installed across the reclaimed landscape.
Breathing New Life into a Historic Site
Engineers faced several challenges while converting the former mine into a solar facility. They had to account for potential land subsidence caused by the underground mine network and navigate complex permitting requirements. By applying careful planning and innovative engineering solutions, the team successfully transformed a site once linked to carbon-intensive energy production into a source of clean power.
The project also demonstrates how developers can use underutilized industrial land for renewable energy generation without taking productive farmland out of use. By repurposing a former mining area, Sol Systems turned a legacy energy asset into a modern clean-energy facility.
Powering Thousands of Homes
The solar farm generates approximately 186 megawatts of electricity and can produce around 319 gigawatt-hours of power each year. This output can supply the annual electricity needs of roughly 35,000 Illinois homes.
The project has delivered economic benefits alongside clean energy. During construction, it created hundreds of jobs and supported local businesses. The facility will also contribute millions of dollars in long-term tax revenue, helping strengthen the local economy for years to come.
As coal mining declines across many parts of the United States, projects like Tilden Solar illustrate how communities can reinvent former industrial landscapes. By converting old mine sites into renewable energy hubs, developers can generate clean electricity while preserving the region’s energy-producing legacy.
