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Johnsburg-area residents urge county to uphold denials of proposed solar farm over water and farmland concerns
Summary
Multiple Johnsburg-area residents told the McHenry County Board they oppose the proposed Ringwood/Spring Grove solar project, arguing driven pylons, galvanization, copper grounding rods and site drainage risk private wells, wetlands and the Fox River watershed; several urged the board to continue legal defense of prior denials.
Several Johnsburg‑area residents used the March 18 public‑comment period to press the McHenry County Board to uphold prior vote denials of proposed solar projects and to continue litigation to preserve local siting review.
Renee Weigert, a Johnsburg resident, said a recent court verdict from another district should not dictate the board's choices here and urged the county to "be proactive, not reactive" and to continue pursuing legal avenues to protect farmland and water. Jim Rollins and other neighbors described reliance on private wells and urged a careful technical review of pile driving and long‑term groundwater impacts.
"A full build‑out project might involve more than 3,000 pylons," Rollins told the board, expressing concern that galvanized pylons and copper grounding rods could accelerate corrosion and affect groundwater. Cassandra Hiller, whose family farm borders the proposed site, asked the board to uphold its earlier denial of the Water Locust Solar application and to continue a court challenge to preserve local siting authority.
Hiller described the local geology and drainage as "direct vulnerability for groundwater contamination," and noted the Fox River is a primary drinking water source for more than 300,000 residents, with 1.2 million people living within the watershed, as cited in her remarks. Emily Grant and others warned that decommissioning plans may not ensure long‑term land restoration.
Several speakers thanked the board for earlier votes to deny Water Locust and Pebble Solar projects in December and urged officials to "stand firm." The board did not vote on the solar projects during the March 18 meeting; public comment concluded and the board continued with other agenda items.
Context and next steps: Residents asked the board to pursue litigation and to use local authorities where statutes allow. The board moved to other business after public comment and did not take additional action on the solar items that evening.
