County Committee Approves Two Solar Energy Projects Despite Farmland Concerns

JOLIET — The Will County Land Use and Development Committee approved two commercial solar energy projects Thursday, advancing the proposals to the full county board for final consideration despite concerns about the loss of agricultural land.

In a 5-1 vote, the committee approved Jacob O Farms LLC’s request for a special use permit for a 3.4-megawatt commercial solar energy facility on approximately 35 acres near the northeast corner of LaGrange Road and West Manhattan-Monee Road in Green Garden Township.

The committee also voted 5-1 to approve a special use permit for a 2-megawatt solar facility on a 19.28-acre portion of an 80.65-acre parcel at 5949 West Eagle Lake Road in Peotone, despite an objection from Will Township officials.

During discussion of the projects, committee member Judy Ogala, who voted against the Peotone project, expressed concern about the continuing loss of farmland in the county.

“It’s agricultural land out there as you know since you’ve been there. It’s a nice rolling landscape, beautiful, all countryside,” Ogala said during discussion of the Peotone project.

Margarite Walters from the county’s Land Use Department reported that Will Township Supervisor Brian K had emailed an objection to the Peotone project, stating the township and road district opposed the special use permit.

“I know that there was conversation in Will Township that their overall plan for the future obviously does not include any type of anything in the area except residential or agriculture, which is what it is,” Ogala noted.

Both projects received variances for increased vegetation height and reduced mowing requirements. The Jacob O Farms project received permission to reduce required mowings from five times to once annually and to increase maximum ground cover plant height from 13 inches to 36 inches. The Peotone project received similar variances.

Jordan Bellnet, managing director of development for Turning Point Energy, told the committee the Jacob O Farms project would include both pollinator plantings and an “agrovoltaic” component with sheep grazing between solar panels.

“These projects provide a lot of benefits. They’re job creators. You need electricians, you need civil work, you need laborers to construct the facility,” Bellnet said. “It increases the tax revenue 13-fold in the first year over the current agricultural use.”

For the Peotone project, developer John Proc of Synergy Power said the facility would include pollinator-friendly plantings and would offer a 30% discount on electricity to nearby residents who subscribe to the community solar program.

Proc also pledged to set aside $100,000 for a local community project, possibly for the restoration of Peotone’s historic windmill or for Will County economic development initiatives.

Committee members pressed both developers on plans for utility connections, with Ogala requesting that as much of the electrical infrastructure as possible be placed underground to avoid the visual clutter of additional utility poles in rural areas.

“One thing as you see in your driving, because solar just keeps popping up all over, you just see all these poles and they just look like a collection of clutter in my mind,” Ogala said.

Committee member Don Bullock raised concerns about the continuing loss of farmland to solar projects and questioned whether developers could instead place panels on warehouse rooftops.

“I would be in favor of solar fields and farms if there was a direct financial savings to the people that live within a certain diameter of that solar farm without having to sign up for a special something,” Bullock said.

During Thursday’s meeting, Ogala reported that she had attended a recent United Counties Council of Illinois legislative conference where solar siting authority was discussed. She noted that state legislators are considering changes to laws that currently limit counties’ ability to deny solar projects.

“There’s been a lot of legislation that’s been submitted this year, more than in the past,” Ogala said. “There will be some changes, hopefully going forward later in the session in an energy omnibus bill.”

Both solar projects will now advance to the full Will County Board for final consideration.