Beecher Board Backs Major Solar Project, Securing $100,000 for Village

Village of Beecher Board Meeting | October 27, 2025

Article Summary: The Village of Beecher has agreed to support Earthrise Energy’s large-scale Plum Valley Solar project after negotiating a Community Benefit Agreement that will provide the village with $100,000 for a future capital project. The board also secured a commitment from the developer regarding future annexation rights to protect the village’s boundaries.

Plum Valley Solar Project Key Points:

• The Beecher Village Board voted 6-0 to send a letter of non-objection to Will County for the Plum Valley Solar project.

• As part of the deal, Earthrise Energy will provide Beecher with $100,000 for a “meaningful” capital project.

• The agreement will include a stipulation protecting Beecher’s future annexation interests for land south of Offner Road in Washington Township.

• The 260-megawatt project will span multiple townships, including Crete, Monee, Will, and Washington.

The Beecher Village Board on Monday, October 27, 2025, voted unanimously to support a massive commercial solar energy project planned for the area after securing a $100,000 Community Benefit Agreement and a pledge to protect the village’s long-term growth plans.

The board agreed to send a letter of non-objection to the Will County Land Use Department for the Plum Valley Solar project, proposed by Earthrise Energy. The project, located northwest of Beecher, falls within the village’s 1.5-mile planning jurisdiction and will occupy land across the townships of Crete, Monee, Will, and Washington.

Ryan Dunfee, a development associate with Earthrise Energy, addressed the board by phone, reiterating the company’s proposal. The core of the deal is a $100,000 payment to the village, intended to fund a significant capital project that provides a “tangible and meaningful benefit to the residents of the village.”

During a previous planning commission meeting, a concern was raised about parcels included in the project south of Offner Road in Washington Township. To prevent the Village of Crete from annexing this land in the future, Beecher officials requested a pre-annexation agreement.

Dunfee confirmed Earthrise’s willingness to cooperate. “We can either commit to not annexing anything into the Village of Crete below that line or, as a flip side, pre-annex the parcels we do have ownership control on that are south of that line,” Dunfee said.

Village Attorney Tim Kuiper noted that this commitment could be incorporated into the final Community Benefit Agreement. The board’s motion was amended to authorize President Marcy Meyer to enter into the finalized agreement, which will include the annexation language, and subsequently send the letter of non-objection to the county.

With the agreement moving forward, the board discussed potential uses for the $100,000. Trustees suggested possibilities like park improvements or public safety projects, though a final decision has not been made. The project must be capital in nature and will be identified within the agreement.

The solar facility is anticipated to be operational in 2028 with a life expectancy of 35 to 50 years.