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Committee hears about SB25, legal risks and battery-storage safety as solar projects grow
Summary
Staff briefed the committee on SB25 (the state 'solar bill of rights'), legal exposure for counties, and technical and emergency-response considerations for battery storage as solar projects and conditional-use filings climb in McHenry County.
County planning staff warned the committee on Jan. 12 that state law changes and rapid growth in solar and battery proposals are reshaping the local review and litigation landscape.
SB25 and legal exposure: Adam, a county planning official, said the governor signed SB25, which staff described as accelerating review deadlines (hearings must conclude within 60 days), extending certain rights to municipalities, and creating a statutory path where a county could be liable for attorney’s fees if a petitioner sues and prevails. "There are some restrictions that will impact the county, but most of it is more of the same," Adam said, while also noting that attorney-fee exposure now becomes part of litigation risk.
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