Will County Board members closed the book Thursday on months of debate and approved Earthrise Energy’s plans for a 6,100-acre solar farm that will stretch across 45 miles in Green Garden, Wilton and Manhattan townships.
The 12-8 vote approving the massive solar farm was split largely along party lines, with board member Mark Revis being the only Republican to vote for the project. Republican board member Raquel Mitchell was absent and board member David Oxley, also a Republican, excused himself from the vote, citing a conflict of interest.
“This approval is a significant milestone in delivering sustainable, renewable energy in Illinois,” Earthrise Energy Chief Executive Officer Jeff Hunter said in a written statement following the vote. “Illinois is among the fastest growing electricity markets in the Midwest, and projects like Pride of the Prairie are critical to meeting demand reliability and quickly.”
Earthrise plans to use its Lincoln Generating facility, a natural gas peaker plant near Manhattan, to connect the power it generates from the Pride of the Prairie solar farm to the state’s power grid. The company has leveraged other peaker plants it owns, including one in Crete, in a similar fashion, allowing Earthrise to bypass lengthy approval processes and get power on the grid quickly.
The project sparked opposition from residents who argued the project was too large and didn’t fit with the rural character of the area. Residents also questioned the environmental impact 1 million solar panels and 300,000 galvanized steel posts anchoring the panels would have on farms and wetlands in the area. Others said they didn’t want to live near a sea of solar panels standing 20 feet high.
“If you vote this through we’re toast,” said Laura Heindrich, whose Manhattan Township farm will be surrounded by the Pride of the Prairie project.
Manhattan Township Supervisor James Walsh said he was concerned the massive project would have a snowball effect and other similarly sized projects would be proposed.
The project has garnered the support from union leaders who say the project will bring jobs to the area.
Steve Becker, an attorney representing 16 residents near the proposed project, urged the County Board to vote with residents and reject the project despite the potential of legal action from Earthrise Energy if the board denied the development.
“I’ve got news for you, you’re going to be sued either way because my clients are going to sue you if you approve this project,” Becker said.
In April, Becker won a delay on a planned vote for the project when a Will County judge ruled the county erred by not allowing Becker to cross examine Earthrise representatives and present his own evidence on behalf of his clients during a public hearing before the county’s planning and zoning commission in late March.
The commission held a second public hearing earlier this month, allowing Becker to pose questions and present evidence on behalf of his clients.
Supporters of the project said the project will bring union jobs to the county, increase tax revenue and provide a green energy alternative.
“When I see acres of solar panels atop of a prairie landscape with pollinating perennials I smile internally,” said Mokena resident Dorelle Ackerman. “I see evidence of the hope for a sustainable future and I can breathe deeply knowing it is improving air quality now and in the future.”
Green Garden resident Ruby Roemer said she made the decision to lease the family’s farm to Earthrise because it provides a way for her and her husband, George, to stay in their home and it keeps the farm in the family.
The Pride of the Prairie development is expected to generate $3.5 million in property taxes in its first year of operations, according to the company’s website. In a news release Thursday, Earthrise projected its Pride of the Prairie solar farm will generate more than $80 million over the life of the project, anticipated to be between 30 and 50 years.
Earthrise estimates the project will create more than 1,000 jobs including more than 600 construction jobs.
“Today’s vote is a win for the working men and women of Will County and for the future of our region’s energy infrastucture,” James Connolly, business manager of the Chicago Laborers’ District Council.
In casting their votes, County Board members pointed to recent changes in state law that preclude them from turning down solar projects if they meet state standards. In April, board members were ordered by a Will County judge to reverse previous decisions on six smaller solar farm projects that the board had initially rejected.
At that same meeting, the board approved Earthrise Energy’s plans for a 2,400-acre, 240-megawatt solar farm near Crete. The Plum Valley solar farm will use the Earthrise peaker plant in Crete to direct power onto the grid.
“I do understand and I sympathize with the residents,” said board member Sherry Newquist, a Steger Democrat. “For me it really boils down with the fact that the state of Illinois has removed our discretion in this matter.”
Republicans, however, opposed the project citing residents’ concerns and the size of the project.
“The problem with this project is 6,000 acres,” Republican Leader Jim Richmond of Mokena said.
Others questioned the completeness of Earthrise Energy’s application for a special use permit. Board member Daniel Butler, a Frankfort Republican, suggested the application lacked adequate information about wetlands, the exact location of solar panels or the galvanized steel posts that will be used anchor the panels.
Members of the county’s land use division, which oversees permits for new developments, said the application met all county standards and that some of the details in question will be fleshed out when Earthrise applies for building permits.
The Plum Valley project is expected to generate $2.3 million in property taxes its first year of operations. Earthrise officials estimate the project will create more than 300 construction jobs and four jobs in operations, according to its website.
While critics have argued Earthrise has not provided a complete application for its Pride of the Prairie project, county officials have said the application has met all of the county requirements.
Earthrise officials also rejected claims that they have not adequately delineated wetlands within the footprint of the development area. Company officials said they have relied on maps from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to identify wetlands and have been out on the property to identify any farmed wetlands.
Additional solar projects
The County Board approved a handful of significantly smaller solar facilities across the Southland.
US Solar proposed a 4.98-megawatt solar plant with a battery energy storage facility for about 90 acres on Stuenkel Road in Green Garden Township near Frankfort.
Green Garden Township objected to the project, stating it was too close to the Erinwood subdivision, could affect property values and the area’s residential character, create a negative visual impact for the homeowners and increase stormwater runoff.
Township Supervisor Dean Christofilos and his wife, Heidi, asked the board members to deny both the Pride of the Prairie and US Solar projects. He said the US Solar project would put 17,000 panels next to a subdivision, permanent change the rural atmosphere and degrade the residents’ quality of life.
Resident John Skouris said no one is considering children’s safety having a solar farm adjacent to a neighborhood while Green Garden Township resident Alexis Snow said she is angry about both the Earthrise and US Solar projects that will affect her neighborhood.
“They only want our farmland because it’s cheaper than going on commercial (zoned land),” Snow said.
About 140 residents signed a petition opposing the project, and the Land Use and Development Committee recommended denying both the permits for the solar energy and battery storage facilities.
Board member Judy Ogalla, a Monee Republican, urged the board to deny the project, and said the area is prone to flooding.
The board passed the solar project by an 11-9 vote but denied the battery storage facility with 19 members voting against it. The battery storage project would have stored energy generated from the solar panels for future use.
Board member Sherry Newquist, a Steger Democrat, noted the battery storage facility did not fall under the same state guidelines as solar projects that require local ordinances to not be more stringent than state law.
A few other solar projects received support from the board.
Nexamp proposed Monee Sun 1 and Monee Sun 2 on vacant property at the southwest corner of South Will Center Road and West Court Street in Monee. Nexamp plans to use about 55 acres of the requested 78 acre special use area for two 5-megawatt facilities. The project is planned for about 45 years.
OneEnergy Development LLC plans two different projects in Crete and Troy townships.
The company has told the county it would like to use about 10 acres of a 33-acre parcel at 24117 S. Volbrecht Road, Crete, for a 2 megawatt solar farm.
In Troy Township, the company proposed a 2-megawatt solar farm would occupy about 15 acres of a 21-acre parcel east of Interstate 80 and north of West Shepley Road near Joliet.
The projects are expected to serve about 345 homes each, according to county documents.
Alicia Fabbre and Michelle Mullins are freelance reporters for the Daily Southtown.
