Quincy Planning Commission recommends denial of new solar farm

QUINCY (WGEM) — Another solar farm project in Adams County was brought before the Quincy Planning Commission Wednesday night.

The project, owned by Virginia-based Summit Ridge Energy, hopes to build their solar farm on a property on Ellington Road, just outside of the Quincy city limits but still inside of its jurisdiction.

“There is only one neighbor that is not in support of [the project],” said Moira Cronin, Summit Ridge director of project development.

Despite Cronin’s claims, those at the meeting disagreed, with one neighbor of the property saying they don not want things to change.

Residents voiced many reasons why they did not want the project to go through including potential property value decreases, glare from the solar panels, and simply not wanting to see the solar farm among others.

“Sixty feet from my house they want to put a blacktop road all the way down the field and I’m going to see big trucks and machinery going out of here,” next-door neighbor John Winking said.

Despite an outpouring of disapproval by many in attendance at the meeting, the son of the property owner who hopes to lease his land pleaded with the commission to approve the special permit. He said it is ground to make money with and it is an opportunity that does not show up often.

Other neighbors did not show him any sympathy.

One person stated he did not care if the man’s father was broke, and said his own father was broke and had to raise 13 kids.

The commission voted to deny recommending the special permit. It will now fall on the Quincy City Council to decide whether to side with or against the commission at next Monday’s meeting.

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