MCLEAN COUNTY, Ill. (WMBD) — On Tuesday, the McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals had hearings on two applications for commercial solar generating facilities.
The first application came from Hudson Twp III Solar LLC. The request was for a special use to allow an up to five megawatt commercial solar energy generating facility. The facility is proposed for the Agriculture District in Hudson Township, immediately northeast of the intersection of 2450 North Road and 1650 East Road.
The second application from Suter Solar, LLC had the same request. That facility will be in the Agriculture District in Downs and Empire Townships, immediately east of 2375 East Road and approximately a quarter mile south of US Route 150.
While both applications were approved unanimously, the board pondered if there should be a limit on solar projects.
“But if the standards are what we go by. And so, if the standards are met, I don’t know if we can do anything about it,” said board member James Finnigan.
“How much? How many acres do we devote to solar in McLean County? I don’t think we know what that means,” said board member Ruth Novosad. “But I think we’re doing this piecemeal and we’re looking at each case by case, and we’re making good decisions. But I do think that eventually that question, I think, should be answered.”
Both applications will go before the McLean County Board on June 12.
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