Where Frogs, Butterflies, and Locally Generated Energy Share the Same Backyard in Rural Illinois
Morgan Solar 1 and Morgan Solar 1B are a pair of community solar arrays near the village of Meredosia in Morgan County, Illinois. Developed by Pivot Energy and operated by Summit Ridge Energy since 2021, Morgan Solar is living (or operating) proof that locally generated energy and good land stewardship aren’t competing priorities; they can reinforce each other.
Spanning a combined 29 acres across a 72-acre parcel along Cemetery Road, the two arrays feature photovoltaic panels mounted on single-axis tracking systems with an operational capacity of 4 MW. Both sites now deliver affordable energy credits to homes and businesses through Ameren’s utility grid as part of the Illinois Adjustable Block Program.
Morgan Solar 1 and 1B generate a combined 4 MW of solar power within the Ameren utility grid
A Model for Responsible Development
What makes this project unusual is the land itself. The site sits on sandy soils near the Illinois River, which happens to be habitat for two state-listed species: the Illinois chorus frog and the regal fritillary butterfly. Summit Ridge Energy worked closely with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to secure an Incidental Take Authorization and Conservation Plan in place.
Regal fritillary butterfly on common milkweed.
The project was designed to actively improve habitat conditions compared to the site’s prior agricultural use. The land beneath and between the solar panels was planted with a native short-grass prairie seed mix that includes violet species (the host plant for regal fritillary larvae) and a range of nectar-producing wildflowers. That means no annual soil tilling, no herbicide application, and a more diverse plant community for local wildlife.
The Results Are In: Wildlife Is Thriving
In July 2025, environmental consultants from Hey and Associates conducted a post-construction butterfly survey and found multiple adult regal fritillary butterflies foraging milkweed plants growing throughout the solar arrays. Sand milkweed, a higher-quality native species, was also documented on-site.
Beyond the regal fritillary, surveyors recorded several other butterfly species, including the eastern tailed blue, gray copper, and orange sulfur, plus a range of bees and other pollinators. Five years after construction, the solar arrays are functioning as a productive pollinator habitat.
Orange Sulphur
The site’s ecosystem is just as fitting for the Illinois chorus frog. In spring 2024, Hey and Associates researchers deployed an acoustic recorder near a small pond just north of the solar arrays to listen to the frog’s distinctive call during breeding season. Over 34 days of monitoring, the recorder captured chorus frog calls on 32 separate days (from March 9 through April 6), confirming a healthy, active breeding population in the area. Researchers also identified chorus frog activity in nearby road ditches and ephemeral wetlands, consistent with habitat patterns documented by scientists over the past few decades.
Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter Mini deployed along pond.
Illinois Chorus Frog (Pseudacris Streckeri illinoensis)
Local Impact, National Value
For Morgan County, the project means new construction jobs, local tax revenue, and a long-term investment in the community’s infrastructure, all on land that continues to serve a productive purpose. Plus, the landowner can now count on guaranteed lease income for the next few decades.
By turning former agricultural land into a site that produces both energy and improved wildlife habitat, Summit Ridge Energy is showing that solar development and responsible land management go hand in hand.
Project at a Glance
| Location | Meredosia, Morgan County, Illinois |
| Sites | Morgan Solar 1 & Morgan Solar 1B |
| Capacity | 4 MW |
| Acreage | ~29 acres (within a 72-acre parcel) |
| Technology | Single-axis tracking PV system |
| Constructed | 2020 to 2021 |
| Developer | Pivot Energy |
| Owner/Operator | Summit Ridge Energy |
| EPC Contractor | Midwest Wind and Solar |
| Utility | Ameren |
| Notable Feature | Native prairie seed mix supports state-listed Illinois chorus frog and regal fritillary butterfly |
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