Solar farms are coming to Adams County, here's how they impact the environment

Adams County, Illinois (KHQA) — Solar farm projects are rapidly popping up in Adams County, Illinois and creating widespread controversy about how these solar farms affect the land that they’re on and the people who live next to them.

“We find it to be an environmental positive, good for public health, good for conservation, really important projects,” said the Executive Director for Illinois Environmental Council, Jen Walling.

Recently, the county board approved a project in Ursa, rejected a project on Ghost Hollow Road, then reversed that decision, approving the Ghost Hollow project.

Several board members were still opposed to the project but ultimately voted yes to comply with Illinois state law—which board members say favors the solar farm companies.

“The issue here is that as we go through this process, there is no vote. And we’re put in a position where a yes or a no vote hurts someone and that’s not how, I know that’s not how our constitution reads, set aside Illinois law. But we can’t set it aside. They’ve made a law that I believe, results in extortion,” said Republican Adams County board member for District 4, Steve McQueen.

As these projects are entering Adams County, residents are bringing up concerns about the aesthetics of living next to one.

“I think aesthetics are definitely a point of view of the person. I find solar panels to be really beautiful. A lot of people do as well, and there’s not been any evidence that they impact property values,” said Walling.

The approved solar farms in Adams County are going on previously agricultural farming land.

So, how will that affect the environment in the area?

“We find that solar farms are absolutely a positive environmental benefit,” said Walling.

Solar is considered a renewable, clean energy since it doesn’t contribute to greenhouse gases while in operation and you can use as much of the source, the sun, as you want without running out.

But it’s not without its issues.

Heavy metals?

Creating the panels includes small amounts of toxic metals like cadmium, silver, or lead, according to the EPA.

Mining for these metals, like most mining, can add to air pollution, water pollution, and habitat destruction.

“It does have some heavy metals that are mined in things like lithium but when you compare it to mining coal, or some of the coal pollution that comes from that, or the air pollution from methane gas, it’s definitely much more environmentally beneficial than what might come from the alternative sources,” said Walling.

On their own, these metals can be a health hazard for people and nature.

Walling said it shouldn’t be problem due to how the panels are designed.

“The heavy metals are things like, like lithium and batteries and that sort of thing, but it’s all encapsulated within the panel. The water would destroy the electricity in the panel before it would cause leaking…It’s not going to just leak. That’s not a thing that can physically happen. And if it did get water in it, the electricity, like the panel, would stop being useful, but it’s built to not do that,” said Walling.

But the discarding of old panels can be a problem.

“If it were destroyed and were submerged in water, I would be concerned. And so, I do think we need to be really careful about the way that solar panels are recycled, reenergized or restored at the end of its useful life, which could be 20 years, you could reenergize and get even more time out of it. We do need to keep working on that issue, but not in a way that stop solar from moving forward. It’s an issue that we’re going to solve,” said Walling.

Soil erosion?

“It can change erosion patterns…But typically, these panels, it’s a panel, and then below it is a wire, metal infrastructure, and they have completely permeable soil underneath…You’re not going to have the erosion is happening from plowing the soil. It’s happening from ripping plants up. It’s not happening from these solar farms that are just sitting there for 20 years. I think it’s actually a pretty good break for the soil,” said Walling.

And according to the USDA, protecting the soil from erosion is in the best interest of the solar farm companies as well, to prevent the loose soil from damaging the equipment.

“You work together to make sure to do that it is not causing soil erosion, and, in fact, is probably very helpful to the soil and soil erosion and building up the soil and organic matter…Solar panels are really good for drainage, and they’re really good for giving the soil a break,” said Walling.

Wildlife?

“Sometimes the farmland is not exactly the best habitat, especially if heavy pesticides are being used on that property. That’s going to harm all of the wildlife, all of the deer, all of the pollinators. So, I’m looking at what the solar is going to be replacing,” said Walling.

Walling said that these solar farms can help heal land that might be receiving harmful impacts from farming— especially through programs in Illinois that solar companies can use to help improve the natural habitat they sit on, like spreading native seeds for the pollinators. And, she doesn’t think they are of any harm to the wildlife.

“It’s sort of a matte surface that collects the sun. I have never heard of aquatic birds being attracted. And in fact, it can be a place where you can have habitat,” said Walling.

But the USDA states that it could happen—wildlife might be attracted to the solar panels reflection seeming like water. The USDA recommends taking steps to make the solar farms less desirable to wildlife, by using fences, adding white outlines to the panels, and investing in creating a more attractive habitat near by that the wildlife would choose instead.

What’s next for the community?

Walling suggests that the farming doesn’t have to stop when a solar farm comes to town, it just shifts.

“There’s a lot of agrivoltaics happening where people are actually farming or having livestock and solar. When you do agrivoltaics, you typically need to put the solar at a little bit of a higher level than you would just if you didn’t do it. But we’re finding that these can be actually really great habitat resources,” said Walling.

As for the environment, it has its pros and cons. And whether its beneficial, depends on the companies and the communities.

“I would encourage people that are maybe going to have a solar panel next to them, to really spend some time in the research, spend some time with the developer, work on how they’d like to see the project set up, and work together to get to a point, because these can be really positive for our community. We’re seeing a lot of counties that are getting a lot of property taxes out of solar. They’re getting a lot of energy benefit out of solar locally, having it there, and so a lot of jobs. So this is something solar is really important, and I encourage folks to work together on any concerns that they may have,” said Walling.