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DeWitt County board approves 30-acre Revere Road solar siting after residents raise concerns
Summary
The DeWitt County Board approved a siting permit for a roughly 30-acre Revere Road solar farm in Texas Township by a 7–2 vote; residents questioned taxes, property values, runoff, liability and proximity to Weldon Springs during the public hearing.
The DeWitt County Board voted 7–2 on Aug. 27 to approve a siting permit for a proposed commercial solar energy facility on about 30 acres northwest of Revere and Hoover roads in Texas Township. The motion was made by Ferguson and seconded by Tilley; the board recorded ayes from Ferguson, Hammer, Prestegaard, Tilley, Walters, Werts and Witte, and nays from Carter and Ryan.
Chairman Witte opened the hearing at 5:01 p.m., reviewed procedures and emphasized that "public comments are not evidence." Developer Zachary Farkes of ReWild Renewable presented the project and told the board the farm would be "out of sight—out of mind" for most neighbors, would connect to Ameren at the Rt. 54 substation by Casey's in Clinton, and that the Finfrock family will retain land ownership while leasing the property to the developer.
The applicants told the board they had run federal and state reviews — including FEMA, FAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — and referenced state-level input from the Illinois Preservation Association, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The packet included a City of Clinton approval letter, the applicants said.
During public comment, nearby property owners raised questions about the financial benefit to county taxpayers and local impacts; applicants cited tax estimates included in the application materials, saying the Illinois Department of Revenue methodology produces an estimate of about $1.9 million in tax payments over a 20–40 year period, and that jobs created would be paid at prevailing wage. The board also heard questions about drainage tiles, glare, property values and potential impacts to Weldon Springs.
Ferguson asked the Zoning Administrator and applicants to enter the Illinois Department of Revenue tax information and a manufacturer letter verifying inverter cybersecurity into evidence. After those procedural matters, the board voted to approve the siting permit for parcel 12-02-300-006 (an eastern portion of an approximately 68.6-acre tract), which is zoned RD-2.
The board adjourned at 6:17 p.m.
