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Boone County board approves Cemetery Road solar special use over residents' objections
Summary
After extensive public comment, the Boone County board approved ordinance 26-21 (SUP 052026) allowing a Nexamp solar project at Cemetery Road in a 6–5 roll-call vote; board members cited state statutory limits and litigation risk as reasons for approving the project.
The Boone County board voted to approve ordinance 26-21 (special use SUP 052026) for an industrial solar project at 107 Cemetery Road after residents strongly objected during public comment.
Multiple neighbors urged the board to reject the project, saying it would convert 40 acres of prime farmland and harm local agriculture. Randy Watson said the site was "prime agricultural land that should be preserved," raised concerns about projected generation relative to Illinois capacity‑factor estimates and warned the board not to "throw in the towel." Mary Anne McKenna Moon, whose family farms land adjacent to the site, said the project “is in direct conflict with comprehensive plan objective 3.7” to protect fertile soil and asked the board to uphold its 2022 decision to reject the installation.
Nexamp representative Matt Walsh told the board the company had revised plans since 2022, moving the array farther from the north and east property lines, reducing the fenced footprint to 27.5 acres, lowering pole counts and committing to additional landscape screening. He also said Nexamp coordinated with the Boone County Conservation District after the district raised concerns about red clover on a separate site and that the company had already treated the vegetation.
Board discussion acknowledged the residents’ concerns but emphasized legal and fiscal constraints. Chair Carl Johnson and other members said state code requires approval if applicants meet specified parameters; Rodney Riley said he would vote to approve rather than subject the county to more litigation, noting prior lawsuits and taxpayer costs. Brian Curry spoke of principled opposition but acknowledged limited options under current state law.
The roll‑call vote recorded in the transcript was: Dave Cordray — No; Brian Schneider — No; Ryan Curry — No; Alisa Patterson — Yes; Tom Wahlberg — Yes; Rodney Riley — Yes; Matt Ragano — Yes; Dana Logsdon — No; Marion Thornberry — No; Carl Johnson — Yes; Josh Shoemaker — Yes. The motion carried.
The applicant’s commitments to setbacks, screening and vegetation management were described to the board; however, several residents and board members said they remain concerned about farmland loss and long‑term community impact. The board also noted the county has faced litigation over prior solar decisions and that legal exposure factored into members’ votes.
Next steps: the approved special use allows the project to proceed within the approved parameters; participants said project monitoring and continued coordination with county and conservation staff will continue.
