The Will County Board voted Thursday to approve a 2,400-acre solar farm near Crete and reversed course on six previously denied solar projects near New Lenox, Wilmington, Shorewood and Channahon.
County Board members voted 11-9 to approve Earthrise Energy’s project near Crete. The vote was split largely along party lines, with most Republicans voting against the proposal.
Earthrise Energy expects to start construction on its 260-megawatt solar farm that will cross farmlands in Crete, Washington, Will and Monee townships early next year. When fully operational, the facility will generate electricity for 50,000 households, said Rob Kalbouss, Earthrise Energy’s director of development.
“We are confident in the meaningful economic and community benefits the project will deliver, and look forward to executing our plan and bring it to fruition,” Earthrise said in a written statement.
Members of labor unions spoke in favor of the Plum Valley project and the construction jobs it would bring.
“Projects like these keep individuals like me working,” said Paul Fosco, a member of the Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 4.
Earthrise, which has committed to using union labor for construction, expects the Plum Valley project will create 301 on-site construction jobs and four permanent jobs once the solar farm is operating. The facility is expected to generate about $2.3 million for taxing bodies within its first year of operations, including $40,000 for the village of Crete and $135,000 for Will County.
“America and Illinois are hungry for electricity … we need to build capacity to prevent future outages,” said Andy Panelli, a member of the Homer Glen Environmental Committee.
One resident expressed concern about how Earthrise’s project will affect neighboring farmland, drainage and how realistic it will be to convert the solar farms back to traditional farmland when decommissioned in 30 to 50 years.
Earthrise will use its peaker plant in Crete to move the power it harvests on the Plum Valley solar farm onto the regional grid. Their plan, being used in other projects across the state, allows them to bypass a lengthy approval process to get power on the grid quickly.
Revisiting previous denials
Will County Judge Bennett Braun ordered the board this month to approve projects it once denied. Though they are significantly smaller than the Crete plan with special use permits covering fewer than 100 acres each, they generated enough opposition in 2024 and 2025 for the County Board to reject them.
During past public hearings, residents and local government leaders said the projects were too close to existing homes or the property was poised for residential development.
But in their lawsuits, developers noted they complied with the state law that took effect in 2023 that preempts county authorities from enacting ordinances to prohibit wind and solar projects.
The board voted 16-3 Thursday to approve these projects, with board member Dave Oxley, a Lockport Republican, abstaining. Many board members said they voted yes under duress.
Before the vote, Speaker Joe VanDuyne, a Wilmington Democrat, said the judge’s order confirms the board’s hands are tied.
The state’s attorney’s office warned members who vote against the projects would defy the court order, and might face fines or jail time, VanDuyne said.
“The Will County Board respects the court and the rule of law,” VanDuyne said. “However, recent developments have placed our members in a terrible bind in which they are ordered to cast votes they sincerely believe are against the best interests of our community. We must fight to restore local authority to regulate solar facilities and allow our County Board to vote in good faith.”
Republican board members Judy Ogalla, of Monee, Dan Butler, of Frankfort, and Frankie Pretzel, of New Lenox, voted against the six projects that fell under the court order.
“I cannot vote yes for bad legislation,” Ogalla said. “I’m fighting back.”
Butler said though it was scary to defy the court order, he is standing with residents, noting his district is inundated with solar projects.
“I’m voting because of the public outcry,” Butler said. “I’m their voice.”
Braun set a status hearing for Friday to ensure the County Board complied.
Channahon Mayor Missey Schumacher said the state’s solar legislation has created unintended consequences. The law put the county is a “no-win situation,” she said.
“Ordering a government body to vote in a specific way is not representative government,” she said.
Bill Wagner, a past Green Garden Township trustee, said the process is flawed and is “extortion by definition.”
Maria Bries, an attorney representing solar farms near Channahon and New Lenox, said she understands there are mixed opinions but looks forward to putting disputes in the past.
Specific projects
Near New Lenox, Soltage’s solar farm on about 75 acres of a 141-acre parcel southeast of Haven Avenue and Gougar Road, was rejected May 15, 2025, after nearby residents and officials said it was too close to homes. New Lenox officials planned for a medium density, single-family residential development for that land.
“To be able to dictate to counties and municipalities what they can and cannot approve is an overreach,” New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann said this week. “This is not about being anti-solar. We’ve approved solar. This is about how our rights are taken away and the state is infringing on local elected leaders to decide what’s best for our communities.”
Less than 1.5 miles from Shorewood, the County Board rejected the Black Road Solar 1 and 2 proposals July 17, 2025. The first special use permit covers 34 acres of a 69-acre parcel on West Black Road and South County Line Road, while Black Road 2 proposed to use nearly 24 acres of a 71-acre parcel at Baltz Road and County Line Road.
Shorewood is asking the courts to block the project and said there is confusion with the state law, Mayor Clarence “CC” DeBold said. He said the Will County Board was correct to initially reject the projects.
Two projects near the Wilmington area, rejected in 2024 and 2025, were also given the green light Thursday.
Renewable Properties RPIL Solar 13 plan using about 48 acres of an 85-acre parcel for South Rivals Road near Wilmington was rejected July 18, 2024, after more than 200 residents signed a petition opposing it.
Resident Mark Youell said the board rightly voted this down and urged the board to continue to reject it, saying the detriments far exceed the benefits.
“The public outcry is huge,” he said. “We beat it all these years.”
Florence Renewables proposed using about 34 acres of a 138-acre property on Wilmington-Peotone Road, east of Illinois Route 53 near Wilmington. The project was denied May 15, 2025, after VanDuyne noted the energy facility would be next to the city’s welcome sign. Wilmington city officials objected, saying it was too close to existing residents.
The Channahon McKinley Woods Solar 1 and 2 projects for 64 acres near U.S. Route 6 and South McKinley Woods Road near Channahon were denied June 20, 2024. Village officials and residents said they were concerned normal development would be disrupted and the project could decrease property values.
Delayed Earthrise vote
Board members did not vote on a controversial 6,100-acre solar farm project near Manhattan proposed by Earthrise. A court ruling Wednesday returned the proposal to the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission so the homeowners’ attorney can present evidence and cross-examine Earthrise representatives.
The County Board also approved a resolution asking state lawmakers to restore allowing counties to determine where solar farms can be located.
Alicia Fabbre and Michelle Mullins are freelance reporters.
