McHenry County board appeals approves two Yam Solar community projects, 7-0

WOODSTOCK, Ill. — The McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously on Dec. 2 to approve conditional-use permits for two community-solar projects proposed by Yam Solar 1 LLC and Yam Solar 2 LLC, clearing the petitions to move to the County Board with nine staff conditions.

The projects cover a combined area described in the application as approximately 60.74 acres (PIN 1236276002) at the northwest corner of Pleasant Valley and Sunnyside Road in Seneca Township. The board approved the petitions after hearing a multi-part presentation from the applicant team and extended public comment from neighbors.

In a presentation to the board, Adeel Zaidi, president of Solar Ray Farmers, said the proposals are intended as agrivoltaic community-solar projects that would preserve agricultural uses while generating renewable power. “We are excited here to present our project of Yam Solar 1 and Yam Solar 2,” Zaidi said during the applicant’s initial remarks (applicant testimony, Dec. 2). Tim Callahan of Development Engine Partners described the projects’ local economic case and estimated an annual property-tax contribution from the…