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Residents warn board about mine subsidence at proposed solar site; one commenter denounces renewables and government
Summary
During public comment residents raised concerns about mine subsidence under a proposed PIVX solar site and criticized renewable projects; board did not take formal action but heard testimony about potential geological risks and land impacts.
Two public commenters addressed the board regarding land use and energy projects near the Riolo Bowl Mine. One resident who attended a March hearing about the PIVX solar project said project geologists appeared unfamiliar with the Mahomet Aquifer and recounted observations of mine subsidence — including numerous small water‑filled depressions after heavy rain — that he said occur on farmland near the proposed site.
The commenter said, "There is a tunnel that runs underneath this proposed piece of property... you can see right in the middle of this field, it's low, it's dark, and you could tell probably where that tunnel is," and urged the board to consider subsidence risk when reviewing related projects.
A second commenter criticized solar and wind projects more broadly, asserting they are "net loss systems" and expressing broader political and environmental grievances in strongly worded remarks. Those comments included claims about chemical trails and geopolitical matters; the board acknowledged the remarks and did not take formal action during the public‑comment period.
No county staff response disputing the subsidence claims was recorded in the public‑comment segment. The board did not vote on the solar project during this meeting; the transcript records these matters as public testimony.
