The Boone County Board on Thursday approved a special‑use permit for a 2‑megawatt community solar project proposed by Prairie North LLC on a 40‑acre parcel at 172XX Illinois Route 76 after extended discussion and a split vote.

Planning staff described the proposal as a 21‑acre, 2‑megawatt community solar array contained within a 40‑acre lease and presented a list of 20 recommended conditions for approval. Planning staff noted the zoning board of appeals had denied the special use, and submitted findings opposing the project; the board reviewed competing findings before voting.

The project team, represented by John Carson, founder and managing partner of Trajectory Energy, and Ryan Granholm of the company’s in‑house legal team, said the array would include agrivoltaic measures such as spacing that allows continued agricultural use between rows and a decommissioning bond. Carson told the board, “the benefits that these projects bring…we do commit that our projects are built with labor” and cited local hiring on an earlier Poplar Grove project.

Opponents — including members of the public and some board members — raised concerns about removing farmland from production and whether the county’s comprehensive plan designation for “agriculture preservation” weighed against the project. One speaker summarized an adjacent owner’s written objection and questions about setbacks and fencing.

Board debate focused on two fault lines: whether to adopt the planning staff’s findings of fact (which would favor approval) or to accept the zoning board of appeals’ findings (which had recommended denial). A motion to adopt the staff findings was moved by Dave Wiltsie and seconded by Carl Johnson; that motion failed on the floor. After additional comment and clarification requests, the board then voted on whether to approve the special use permit itself.

The board approved the permit by recorded count; the clerk announced the project carried with a majority vote and the chair said the motion “passes.” Members citing the state law that limits local restrictions on solar siting urged caution about denying projects they said the state allows; other members emphasized farmland preservation and said they would have preferred to deny the permit.

The applicant provided an interconnection notice and committed to a decommissioning plan and bond, and presented an agrivoltaics plan and local‑hire commitments in response to commissioners’ questions. Board members asked the applicant to provide a copy of its interconnection agreement with ComEd for the county packet ahead of the full‑board follow‑up meeting.

The item will return to the full county board for final action and for any additional documentation requested by staff; the applicant agreed to supply the interconnection agreement to be included in the next packet.

Votes and formal actions are recorded in the county minutes for the item.