Boone County board rejects special-use permit for solar farm near Beloit Road

Boone County Board members voted down a special‑use permit for a proposed commercial solar energy facility on Beloit Road after an extended review and public comment period.

The board rejected the application for a solar array proposed on roughly 39.23 acres in unincorporated Belvidere Township. County planning staff reported the project would occupy about 36 acres of leased land with single‑axis trackers not to exceed 12 feet and an operating capacity the applicant estimated at about 8,000,000 kilowatt‑hours per year, which the applicant said is roughly equivalent to the annual usage of about 800 single‑family homes.

Supporters argued the site is viable because existing interconnection capacity for ComEd made the parcel cost‑effective for development, while opponents — including the City of Belvidere planner and the city’s mayor — said the location conflicts with local planning goals and sits within the city’s 1.5‑mile review area.

Ryan Anderson, who identified himself as…