Environmental Defenders of McHenry County details support for solar farms

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County supports the sustainable opportunity that community solar farms represent in McHenry County, and the group invites the public to review its "Position on Community Solar Farms" paper on the organization's website, www.mcdef.org.

The Environmental Defenders recognizes the need for society to embrace clean forms of energy and move away from energy that produces pollution, contaminates water and degrades the planet’s environmental health.

To this end, the group welcomes the opportunity for the county to support community solar farms, and it looks to play a role in helping the projects provide the greatest environmental benefits.

Just as agricultural crops convert energy from the sun into energy consumed as food, solar farms convert the sun’s energy into a clean form of electrical energy used to power daily life.

Local community solar farms provide opportunities for residents and businesses to access clean renewable energy without having to install solar power infrastructure on their own.

Properly designed community solar farms in the area will provide a stackable set of benefits to the community, including a local, clean energy source; a habitat for declining pollinators and other wildlife; the rebuilding of soil; infiltration areas to recharge vital groundwater reserves; reduction in runoff from plowed fields; and improvement in downstream water quality. Prairie solar farms also will be peaceful, quiet, and odorless neighbors.

To learn about community solar power, visit Citizens Utility Board's community solar farms fact sheet at citizensutilityboard.org/community-solar-illinois.

For information, email envirodefmc@gmail.com or call 815-338-0393.

Founded in 1970, The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment.

The group provides the community with educational programs and volunteer action through committees, including waste reduction; transportation; water and nature resources protection; BYOBag; education; fundraising and membership.

Donations and membership are encouraged. For information, visit www.mcdef.org or facebook.com/EnvironmentalDefenders.