McHenry County zoning board approves conditional-use request for 5 MW community solar; vote 7-0

The McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals voted 7-0 to approve proposed conditions and recommended approval of a conditional-use permit for application Z250070, a proposed 5‑megawatt commercial community solar facility on roughly 63.59 acres on the west side of Illinois Route 23 near Marengo.

The project applicant is listed in the record as Lance Leaf Solar LLC; Trajectory Energy Partners representatives presented project details to the board. John Carson, managing partner of Trajectory Energy Partners, told the board the company has developed multiple projects in McHenry County and said, “I don't expect to see much of a slowdown across most of the country.” Matt Kopinski, Northern Illinois project development manager for Trajectory, said the array would cover about 24 acres, “produce enough electricity to power roughly 1,100 homes,” and provide an estimated $104,000 in electricity savings to the surrounding community.

Why it matters: the board and staff said the petition meets county and state siting standards for commercial solar and that state law limits counties’ ability to deny such permits when minimum siting standards are met. The board’s approval advances the petition to the McHenry County Board for final action.

Project details and conditions Trajectory representatives said the facility is being proposed as a community solar project that will prioritize local subscribers, use union labor during construction and…