By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – A McLean County government panel approves of the latest renewable energy project, a solar farm on Bloomington’s south edge.
The county’s zoning board of appeals Tuesday night unanimously recommended the county board grant a special use permit for Cypress Creek Renewables to construct its fourth solar farm in the county.
This one would be located on 25 acres at the northwest corner of S. Main St. and Interstate 74.
Unlike wind farms with towering turbines dominating the landscape, solar arrays would generally be about seven or eight feet high, and they would be flat when the sun is directly overhead at midday. They’re expected to produce enough electricity to power 320 homes.
Cypress Creek senior developer Scott Novack said solar farms also won’t make noise within 150 feet of the facility, and neighbors nearby won’t notice the solar panels.
“We proposed a vegetative buffer between the residences north of Margaret St. and our site. So there’s a 200 foot buffer. Part of that 200 feet (are) two rows of evergreen trees,” Novack said.
Larry Durbin told the zoning board three generations of his family have farmed the land.
“I think it would be a good fit, and it’ll probably make a little more income for us because it’s marginal farm ground,” Durbin said.
Cypress Creek plans to hire 25 construction workers. Area labor leader Mike Matejka urged the company to hire local people.
“Use local trades and use local people to construct this project, and make sure that there’s maximum return for the local citizens, which puts local money into local stores and into local taxing bodies,” said Matejka.
Three months ago, Cypress Creek won approval for the county’s first three solar farms, two in Arrowsmith Township and the other in Downs Township.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
