As Illinois strives to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets, a new report suggests that former mines and industrial sites could provide the perfect solution. The state has over 200,000 acres of ex-coal mines and thousands of other brownfield sites that could be repurposed for solar panels and wind turbines.

The "Mining the Sun" report, released by The Nature Conservancy, highlights the potential for these underutilized areas to host renewable energy projects. Unlike greenfield developments that often face opposition due to land competition with agriculture and conservation, these low-conflict sites offer a community-friendly path forward.

"Illinois has outstanding opportunities to deploy more clean energy installations without taking over prime farmland or encroaching on open green spaces," said Tonyisha Harris, Climate and Energy Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy in Illinois. "Given the progressive policy measures already in place, Illinois is a compelling location for clean energy projects on mine lands and brownfields."

The state's Climate and Equitable Jobs Act of 2021 is set to drive a massive expansion of wind and solar capacity by 2050. When combined with federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the financial case for renewable energy on mine lands and brownfields becomes even stronger.

The report urges Illinois to seize this opportunity by leveraging new federal funding for abandoned mine land remediation, building awareness of tax credits, and updating state statutes to support clean energy development on these sites.

Similar opportunities exist nationwide, with up to 20 million acres of mine lands and brownfields that could host new renewable energy projects. Despite the advantages of expedited permitting and lower community conflict, these sites have been largely overlooked due to cleanup costs, legal risks, and ownership complexities.

"Renewable energy development on mine lands is not a silver bullet, but it is an exceptionally promising avenue to produce clean energy in a way that respects communities and local landscapes," Harris said. "We encourage renewable energy developers, electric utilities, policymakers, and regulators to explore the opportunities to site clean energy on mines and brownfields in their communities."

The full "Mining the Sun" report is available at Nature.org.