This image, shot from a drone, shows solar panels being installed on property owned by Illinois American Water Co. at 6111 N. Galena Road. The Illinois River is seen top right. Sol Systems, a national solar energy firm, is building the system and is passing on savings through a partnership with Illinois American Water Co. (SUPPLIED PHOTO)

Illinois American Water Co. is converting an agriculture field off Galena Road to a nearly-10-acre solar field at 6111 N. Galena Road along the Illinois River.

Karen Cotton, company spokeswoman, said the company is excited about this project that furthers its already-ongoing environmental commitment.

The solar panels are expected to start generating energy by early November.

“We hope the panels will inspire other businesses to explore solar for their operations as well, leading to a larger impact,” Cotton said in a released statement.

The water company is partnering with Sol Systems, a national solar energy firm that will own the solar units and pass on savings. Illinois American Water is estimating this solar field as well as one currently under construction in Champaign, will save the company $200,000 annually.

The two solar fields together represent the company’s largest solar projects nationwide, but it has a number of smaller projects at its corporate headquarters, at an operations building in Peoria and at Metro East operations in southern Illinois.

Cotton said 20 union construction jobs are created for the Peoria and Champaign installations.

The court-ordered closure of the Edwards coal-fired power plant by 2022 was not a factor in Illinois American Water Co.’s decision to install these two solar arrays, Cotton said.

Using EPA equivalences, the company calculates the two solar fields will offset greenhouse gas emissions of 16,222 cars or 8,462,000 gallons of gasoline over 15 years.

The company currently has no plans for further solar installations in Illinois but is analyzing sites in the state for new potential solar construction.