A 99 megawatt solar farm will be coming to Perry County thanks to a new program from the US Department of Agriculture.
The USDA has announced 464 million dollars of grants and loans dedicated to renewable energy infrastructure in rural areas, in hopes of lowering power costs and attracting economic development.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says the loan to Prairie Solar, LLC, is an example of a deal that can help reduce the cost of electricity.
"Prairie State Solar, LLC, is taking 95 million dollars and essentially creating a 99 megawatt photovoltaic farm on 621 acres," Vilsack says. "So this farm's already been able to enter into a long-standing purchase agreement for the power and electricity that's going to be generated."
The company has a 27-year agreement with the Wabash Valley Association to sell the electricity produced by the farm.
