Walmart‘s new perishable grocery distribution center in Belvidere, Illinois, has taken a key step toward its 2027 opening, with utility ComEd energizing the high-voltage substation and electric infrastructure that will power the facility.
The 1.2 million-square-foot center will process and distribute fresh and frozen products to Walmart stores throughout the Great Lakes region, operating around the clock, the Oct. 5 news release said.
“Investments like Belvidere are ultimately about serving our customers and making our supply chain stronger,” said Shayne Wahlmeier, Walmart SVP of energy. “It’s a great example of how we’re planning for energy alongside the growth of our business.”
Substation could serve future area needs
The new 138-kilovolt substation sits on a 6.8-acre parcel of former farmland near the Walmart site and provides capacity to support future industrial growth in the region.
“ComEd is committed to delivering safe, reliable power that advances economic growth in northern Illinois and supports our thriving communities,” said Gil Quiniones, president and CEO of ComEd. “We are proud that our grid infrastructure continues to help attract major companies like Walmart to do business in our region, and we look forward to expanding this facility in the future to serve the growing need for electricity in the area.”
In an Oct. 6 Facebook post, ComEd said, “We’re proud to help power Belvidere’s next chapter. … By investing in reliable energy infrastructure, we’re helping attract new business, support local jobs and power the continued growth of communities across northern Illinois.”
Local and state officials framed the project as an economic development win. “Walmart’s investment will expand opportunities for local residents, while ComEd’s infrastructure investment positions Boone County for continued growth in food and agriculture, logistics and other high-growth industries,” said Pamela Lopez-Fettes, CEO of economic development organization Growth Dimensions.
The Belvidere center continues Walmart’s buildout of high-tech perishable distribution capacity, following openings in Wellford, South Carolina, in 2025 and Lancaster, Texas, in 2024.
ComEd, a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corp., serves more than 4.2 million customers in northern Illinois, or about 70 percent of the state’s population.
Related: Walmart Opens High-Tech Perishable Distribution Center In Wellford, SC