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County to hold April hearings on wind/solar siting and energy-storage rules; three 5‑MW solar permits under review
Summary
Lee County planning staff said the commission will hold public hearings April 6 on changes to wind and solar siting rules and energy-storage standards under Illinois Public Act 1040458. Staff also reported three 5‑MW community solar permit applications and a request from Meadow Solar to substitute a bond for an escrow for decommissioning security.
Alice, Lee County’s zoning and planning official, told the committee that the planning commission will hold public hearings on April 6 to consider petitions updating county rules to reflect state changes in wind and solar siting standards and to adopt energy storage standards pursuant to Illinois Public Act 1040458.
She said those petitions will return to the county board later in the month and are likely to be held over for a month before final action. Separately, Alice said her office has received building‑permit applications for three 5‑megawatt community solar projects: Pulse Solar (Kilgore Road), Wong Solar (Pilgrim Road) and Meadow Solar (near Dixon Park District). The office is processing permits for all three projects.
Alice also told the committee that Meadow Solar has asked the county board to accept a security bond as an alternative to the ordinance‑required escrow account for decommissioning financial security; that request was placed on the executive agenda for the next Thursday meeting.
Procedural action: The committee moved an energy‑storage moratorium resolution to the executive committee for inclusion on the March county board agenda; the motion was moved by Ron Gascoinne, seconded by Dean, and was carried by the committee.
Next steps: Public hearings on the siting and energy‑storage petitions are scheduled for April 6; permit processing for the three community solar projects will proceed under normal review timelines.
