DeKalb County Board approves Burr Oak Solar Farm
The DeKalb County Board on Wednesday approved a special use permit for the 2,000-acre Burr Oak Solar Farm, proposed for an area north of Hinckley and bordered by Perry, Crego, Lasher, and Somonauk roads. The project is being developed by Leeward Renewable Energy.
The vote in Sycamore followed about an hour of public comment, with many neighbors objecting to the project and a group of NIU students speaking in favor, calling for a more sustainable energy future.
Several opponents said they do not object to solar energy in general but are concerned about losing prime farmland and potential flooding exacerbated by the installation.
District 3 Board Member Tim Bagby voted yes, but said his decision was more about following state law than supporting the project.
“A solar farm doesn’t really impact the person who’s exercising agriculture next door,” Bagby said. “It doesn’t have the same impact, that having a machine stamping plant next to a residential neighborhood in the middle of DeKalb or something like that. It’s a different type of, impact. It’s hard to imagine something being two thousand acres not dominating something, but in large measure, this is a benign, thing.”
A DeKalb County hearing officer and the Planning, Zoning, and Development Committee had both recommended approval of the project as it met the county’s conditions.
County Board District 6 Member Meryl Domina noted that the power generated from the installation would benefit everyone, not just the Chicago area.
Leeward Renewable Energy.
“We’re currently, receiving energy and who knows where. A little bit is from here, and a little bit is from there, and a little bit is just from further away and it’s all put into, or most of it, is put into the grid that we draw, in DeKalb, our energy from,” Domina said. “And the same thing, even if it’s going to go into, something closer to Chicago, it’s going to mean there’s more energy that we have that isn’t being used by Chicago. It’s not that it doesn’t benefit us all. It benefits the same way that it is reciprocal.”
Representatives from Leeward have touted about $47 million in tax revenue, more than $175 million in economic output, and support for community programs and organizations. They also say native plants will be placed around the panels to help improve soil health.
Leeward Vice President of Development Kevin Adelman is applauding the approval.
“We thank everyone who participated in the hearing process for sharing their perspectives,” Adelman said in a statement sent to WSPY Thursday morning. “This approval clears the way for Burr Oak Solar to deliver more than $400 million in economic investment to the county, including $47 million in property taxes over the project’s lifetime and 700 full-time jobs during construction. These revenues will strengthen funding for the local Hinckley-Big Rock and Indian Creek school districts, roads, local taxing districts, and the community colleges. We are committed to building an environmentally sound project, guided by a commitment to safety with lasting benefits for DeKalb County.”
Board members voting in favor included Laura Hoffman, Tim Hughes, Kathy Lampkins, Jim Luebke, Michelle Pickett, Roy Plote, Chris Poterfield, Ellingsworth Webb, Tim Bagby, Scott Campbell, Mary Cozad, Rukisha Crawford, Patrick Deutsch, Meryl Domina, and Chair John Frieders.
Opposed were Rebecca Johnson, Elizabeth Lundeen, Joseph Marcinkowski, Laurie Emmer, Suzanne Fahnestock, and Benjamin Haier.
Rhonda Henke abstained.
Editor’s note: Added a statement from Leeward Renewable Energy.