Solar development

Plans for constructing a five-megawatt solar farm in DeKalb moved one step closer to reality this week.

Resolution to be drafted arguing that riverfront property should not be used for project.

A developer is asking for city permission to construct a 5-megawatt ground mounted solar farm on unincorporated land at the southwest corner of Route 38 and John Huber Parkway in DeKalb.

Developers of a 4.99-megawatt community solar facility last week got the go-ahead from the Ogle County Board to move forward with a project that could power about 800 single-family homes.

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The Sterling City Council on Monday approved a pre-annexation agreement for land owned by Bill Hermes of TN Hermes at McCue and West LeFevre roads, where Nexamp Solar LLC wants to build the LeFevre Road Solar Project.

Officials hoping to build a 4.2-megawatt commercial solar energy system in Mayfield Township believe the project won’t hurt nearby property values, according to an application submitted by plan developers.

The Dixon Park District announced plans Friday, June 21, 2024, to build a solar farm on 24 of 600 acres of land near The Facility. The district is partnering with Trajectory Solar on the project. The Facility is located at 1312 Washington Ave.

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On May 23, Lee County Board members voted 12-4 to grant a special use permit to Woosung Solar LLC to build a 5-megawatt commercial solar energy facility on the southeast corner of Pilgrim Road and state Route 26 in Palmyra Township.

A 5-megawatt commercial solar energy facility in Palmyra Township got the special use permit developers need to move forward with the project when the Lee County Board voted 17-1-1 to grant it.

The Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled to make a recommendation Wednesday evening regarding a proposed 5-megawatt commercial solar facility in Palmyra Township.

The Sterling City Council agreed Monday not to object to a request for a special-use permit for a 5-megawatt solar farm just west of city limits, at Freeport and Science Ridge roads.

Lee County Board members voted 11-3-3 to issue the special use permit to Hexagon Energy LLC, a Virginia-based company doing business in Illinois as Steward Creek Solar LLC, for Phase 2 of a 1,200-megawatt commercial solar energy facility in Alto and Willow Creek townships.

A Colorado-based energy company has asked for city of DeKalb consideration to install a 5-megawatt solar farm on 38 acres at the southwest corner of Illinois Route 38 and John Huber Parkway in DeKalb, documents show.

Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals members unanimously voted to recommend the Lee County Board approve Hexagon Energy LLC’s petition to be allowed to build Phase 2 of Steward Creek, a 1,200-megawatt commercial solar energy facility.

Members of the public had a chance to weigh in on a Virginia-based company’s special use permit request to build Phase 2 of what would be one of the largest solar facilities in the country during a Feb. 28 public hearing before the Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals.

Lee County officials met with U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Illinois, on Tuesday to discuss issues impacting the area and potential support for federal resources in the community.

Hexagon Energy LLC, a Virginia-based company doing business in Illinois as Steward Creek Solar LLC, is seeking a special use permit from Lee County to build Phase 2 of a 1,200-megawatt commercial solar energy facility in Alto and Willow Creek townships.

The first of two public hearings before the Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals regarding what could be the largest solar facility in Illinois is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 20.

A company seeking to build two of 2-megawatt Solar Gardens in Shabbona Township recently got the projects approved by the DeKalb County Board, but not everyone was onboard.

The Grundy County Board took the advice of the Land Use committee on Tuesday night when it approved an extension for the Greenbacker Renewable Energy solar farm project located south of Dupont Road between Buffalo and Verona.

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A 5-megawatt solar farm at Locust Street/state Route 40 and Science Ridge Road would not be compatible with Sterling's future industrial plans for that area, and so the City Council is submitting a letter of objection to the project.

A company with multiple community solar projects in Illinois and five other states is asking to build a 5-megawatt solar farm in a field at Locust Street/state Route 40 and Science Ridge Road, just outside Sterling’s northern city limit.

The DeKalb County Board on Wednesday is set to vote on Amp Solar Development’s proposal to put a five-megawatt solar garden on 31.2 acres of the 76.28-acre property at the northeast corner of Pratt and West Sandwich roads.

Letter to the Editor: DeKalb County Board should vote no on solar development on Pratt Road

The public is invited to weigh in Thursday on a proposal to build a solar garden in Squaw Grove Township in rural southern DeKalb County.

A Lee County Board vote on whether to approve a six-megawatt solar farm near the historic Col. Nathan Whitney House was postponed another month.

A proposed solar garden in rural DeKalb County split the DeKalb County Board recently amid concerns that the garden would sit on land meant to provide irrigation for multiple farmers in the southeastern part of the county.

Opinion: Community solar is a relatively new concept in the world of renewable energy, but it’s quickly gaining traction in DeKalb and northern Illinois. This innovative approach to solar power enables local communities to pool their resources.

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According to the city officials tasked with voting on the proposal, location and politics played the key roles in the solar project's ultimate denial.

DeKalb County government officials are seeking additional guidance and inviting the public to weigh in on a new state law which requires counties to make uniform existing regulations on solar and wind farm developments.

Two proposed 35-acre solar farms in Clinton Township in southern DeKalb County are one step closer to approval.

In 2021, five states – California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Illinois – made up nearly half of all U.S. shipment destinations for solar panels, which reached a record high of 28.8 million peak kilowatts that year.

The DeKalb County Board approved changes to the county’s existing solar energy regulations this week, with debate again centered around how much distance should be required between solar developments and surrounding properties.

It would be surrounded by a chain-link fence at least 7 feet tall, and panels are covered in an anti-reflective coating to offset glare.

A Wisconsin-based solar company has been cleared to build a solar farm across from the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport, and city officials took action Monday night to amend existing rules to accommodate the proposal.

The amount of total acres commercial solar energy projects can cover in DeKalb County will soon be restricted to 12,000 acres countywide, leaving about 5,000 acres for remaining future projects.

The amount of acres solar energy projects can cover in DeKalb County might soon be restricted.

In front of a standing room only crowd packed into the DeKalb County Board meeting Wednesday, three solar energy projects which have come under intense public scrutiny in recent months were given the go-ahead by the board to begin development on 6,000 acres of rural county land. "The horse is out of the barn in this case," said county board chairman John Frieders.

Three industrial solar energy projects which have drawn controversy throughout DeKalb County in recent months received preliminary approval this week. Developers say the proposed lines between the solar farms and residential property could pose a challenge.

The board didn't shine on the project proposal.

The Lee County Board signed off on a 5,000-acre utility grade solar farm Thursday and amended its solar ordinance to better address resident concerns with large developments.