Iroquois County board advances conditional approvals for major solar projects after residents press drainage, liability and decommissioning safeguards

The Iroquois County Board voted this month to advance conditional approvals and timing variances for large solar projects after residents raised repeated concerns about drain‑tile damage, liability and battery storage safety.

David Preston, identified in public comment as the lead developer for Allian, described one proposal as “a 50 megawatt solar project, 10 megawatt battery,” and said the developer has removed infrastructure from a drainage district line and will submit stormwater and drainage reports and a department training plan for county review. He said the company included many of the county’s recommended conditions in its application.

Why it matters: Neighbors and drainage‑district representatives told the board the projects could intersect century‑old tile lines that protect thousands of acres of farmland and warned that pile driving, posts or a battery failure could cause contamination, crop damage or costly repairs. Several speakers asked the board not to issue building permits until legally binding protections and mapping of tile lines are…