DIXON – The 4,000-acre solar farm proposed south of Dixon is estimated to bring in around $43 million in property tax revenue during the 35-year life of the project.

South Dixon Solar LLC, of Duke Energy Renewables, is petitioning the county for a special-use permit to build a 500-megawatt utility-grade project south of the industrial park on state Route 26 in South Dixon Township.

The company is leasing 3,838 acres of farmland across 50 parcels involving 25 landowners, project developer Tyler Coon said.

"It is a very significant, large project that will become a major and important energy source in this portion of Illinois," Coon said, adding that it would be the company's largest solar project and one of the biggest proposed on this side of the Mississippi River in the U.S.

It would generate enough energy to power 100,000 homes a year, and construction would begin in early 2022 if approved.

The project would create around 450 construction jobs across 2 years with the goal of becoming operational in late 2023, he said, and there would be five to 10 permanent full-time jobs for maintenance.

The company has been providing testimony on the development details during a hearing process for the Lee County Zoning Board, which will make a recommendation that will be passed to the Lee County Board for final approval.

Across 35 years, Coon said property tax revenues are estimated to be around $43 million, including $25 million to the Dixon School District, $3.85 million to the Amboy School District, $5.2 million to the county, $2.5 million to Sauk Valley Community College, $4.5 million to the Dixon Rural Fire Department, and about $1.8 million to South Dixon Township and the road and bridge fund.

Engineer Jason Cooper, of Kimley-Horn, said a local prairie grass or pollinator mix will be planted throughout the footprint, and a solar farm likely will have less water runoff and erosion than traditional row-crop farming.

Tom Huddleston, of Rochelle-based Huddleston-McBride Land Drainage Co., testified on the preliminary drainage assessment for the project and said solar developments allow the land to rest and improve soil nutrients, preparing "prime farmland that will be ready for future generations."

South Dixon Solar is the third massive solar project to approach Lee County in recent months.

Last month, the County Board signed off on awarding Steward Creek Solar LLC, of Virginia-based Hexagon Energy, with a special-use permit to build a 600-megawatt solar farm across 5,000 acres in Alto and Willow Creek Townships near Steward bordering Ogle and DeKalb counties as well as Interstate 39 and Highway 30.

In September, the board approved a 1,300-acre solar farm by Eldena Solar LLC, developed by Minnesota-based Geronimo Energy LLC, allowing for a 175-megawatt solar farm in South Dixon and Nachusa townships, near the corner of Eldena and Nachusa roads.