Normal Town Council green lights plans for Rivian solar panels and parking lot

Posted on April 18, 2023
The solar panels will be installed on 15 acres of land east of Rivian’s test track. (WJBC File Photo)

By Jake Fogal

NORMAL – Solar Panel and Parking Lot plans at Rivian Automotive were unanimously solidified by the Normal Town Council Monday night.

Rivian now has the green light to install the community’s largest array of solar panels to generate electricity at the electric vehicle plant in northwest Normal.

The solar panels will be installed on 15 acres of land east of Rivian’s test track.

The council also granted Rivian’s request to construct a large parking lot on the company’s property, allowing employees to walk to the factory from their vehicles rather than taking a shuttle.

The parking lot is said to have over 1,100 spaces off of College Avenue and Rivian Motorway, which is just south of the main plant.

According to a staff study, a new parking lot is required due to a high majority of employees commuting by shuttle or on foot for up to half-a-mile.

Currently, many employee’s park in remote lot based off of Rivian property.

Jake Fogal can be reached at [email protected].

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