Illinois county advances 200-megawatt battery plant on farmland

A battery storage project proposed for southern Illinois moved a step closer to approval after local leaders used a lengthy hearing to press developers on fire protection and emergency planning.

If built, the 200-megawatt installation would store power during periods of low demand and send it back to the grid when homes and businesses need more electricity.

Here's what to know

RWE is seeking a special use permit for a lithium-ion battery energy storage facility on roughly 20 acres of farmland in Fayetteville Township, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. The planned site is on Bee Hollow Road near an Ameren substation and a neighboring solar project.

During an August 6 meeting, the St. Clair County Zoning Board questioned company representatives about fire response, worst-case scenarios, operating noise, and routine site management. The board then unanimously recommended approval of the permit request, and the proposal is expected to go before the County Board on August 30.

Emphasizing the company's experience with similar facilities, RWE lead developer Nicholas Brown told officials: "I know that this is St. Clair County's first battery, but this is not RWE's. We've operated them, built them. We know how to do it safely, and we know how to do it where it has a limited impact to the overall community."

As presented to officials, the facility would charge its batteries when electricity use is lower and discharge that stored energy when demand rises, helping support the grid as energy needs continue to grow.

More background

Battery storage systems like this are intended to give utilities more flexibility, especially when very hot or very cold weather causes demand to rise quickly. That can improve reliability for residents and businesses while reducing dependence on the most expensive power sources during peak periods.

Still, county officials spent much of their discussion on what might happen if the system failed or caught fire.

Brown said the project would include safety features designed to address heat, smoke, fire and explosion-related risks.

RWE engineer Pedro Duarte said the equipment would automatically vent any problematic gases it detected, including hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

He also said a third-party monitoring center would watch the site around the clock, with alarms alerting both RWE and emergency responders. Duarte said local firefighters would be trained on how to respond safely.

Brown said construction could begin in late 2027 and the project could start operating as early as late 2028, creating about 100 construction jobs.

What's being done?

RWE says multiple safeguards would be in place before the facility begins operating.

Those steps include a site-specific emergency plan that would require approval from local fire officials.

The company also described remote oversight from its Austin operations hub and said local personnel should be able to respond in about an hour.

Board members also asked about the practical effects nearby residents might notice, including when construction would begin and how loud the battery-cooling equipment could be.

Liam Sawyer, a project engineer at Kimley-Horn, said a noise study found the sound would be comparable to that of an average air conditioner.

The proposed permit would last up to 20 years. After that, the company would have about 18 months to decommission the facility, and Sawyer said that work is estimated to cost roughly $14 million, with updated estimates every five years.

County Board member Ed Cockrell argued the project fits a broader national need, saying, "These types of facilities are needed throughout the country because the grid is only going to get more complex and more constant. I fully support the project. I think the project is good. I think the safeguards are in place."

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.