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Committee debates updating county solar ordinance; cybersecurity and battery storage raised
Summary
Committee members urged a comprehensive review of the DeWitt County solar ordinance to address issues raised during recent siting hearings, including proposed cyber‑security language and the battery‑storage ordinance currently at the ZBA; members differed on process and scope of any text amendment.
Committee member Claro Carter said the recent siting hearings revealed issues that the county should address in its solar ordinance and specifically suggested adding cyber‑security requirements. He also said the battery‑storage ordinance pending before the Zoning Board of Appeals should be recommended for approval and sent to the county board.
Pat Ryan said one solar company offered to provide an affidavit related to cyber concerns and volunteered to draft a policy for RPC consideration. Joe Witte cautioned that formal text amendments begin with the County Board or the Regional Planning Commission and argued that any change should trigger a full ordinance review, including fees and the clause requiring municipal approval within 1.5 miles; Witte said that clause is more restrictive than State Statute and does not apply to solar projects, while Carter argued the clause should remain unless successfully challenged.
