Special use permit approved for solar farm in Mahomet
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — A special use permit for a proposed solar farm in Mahomet narrowly passed through the Champaign County Board by a vote of 11-10.
The board met on Thursday, Oct. 23 to discuss Summit Ridge Energy’s proposed plan for Mahomet. The 36-acre solar farm would run from the Spring Lake subdivision and along Spring Lake Drive. Summit Ridge said it would generate 4.99 MWAC — enough to power about
1,500 homes.
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Six Republicans and four Democrats voted against the special use permit. This included Ed Sexton (R), Jeff Wilson (R), Jon Cagle (R), Ben Crane (R), Aaron Esry (R), John Farney (R), Monique Settles (D), Samantha Carter (D), Lorraine Cowart (D) and Brett Peugh (D).
11 Democrats voted to approve it. This included Jilmala Rogers (D), Matt Sullard (D), Eric Thorsland (D), Daniel Wiggs (D), Bethany Vanichtheeranont (D), Jake Fava (D), Stephanie Fortado (D), Elly Hanauer-Friedman (D), Jenny Lokshin (D), Emily Rodriguez (D) and Chair Jennifer Locke (D).
During the public comment portion of the meeting, many people spoke up — both for and against the project.
“I just ask that tonight you vote like the solar farm was being planned by your home and not by how a one-size-fits-all state statute says you should vote,” one Mahomet resident said during the meeting.
An Urbana resident, however, said that increased solar energy usage would lead to economic, health and environmental benefits.
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“By reducing fossil fuel pollution, the solar project will improve air quality and slow planetary warming, which is already causing more intense flooding and extreme heat. In fact, it’s expected to decrease crop yields due to a combination of drought, disease, and lower soil fertility. That means temporarily setting aside a small fraction of our acres to produce solar electricity will help ensure continued productivity on the remaining acres for the next century, if not longer,” an Urbana resident shared during the meeting.
Some of the board members also voiced their concerns — and their support — for the project.
Wilson, for example, said that while he “applauds the efforts” to mitigate concerns regarding noise, soil and erosion, he would be voting against the project.
“We need all kinds of different things for our energy infrastructure,” Wilson said. “However, I’m siding with the community that I reside in and I’m elected to support them and I’m choosing, with full understanding, to agree with the community that lives there that would have to live with this for the next 20 plus years.”
Farney added that the area is zoned as Ag-1, which means that people are going to assume the land will be used for agricultural purposes.
“Why we consider an industrial solar plant to be agriculture is mind-boggling. That definition makes no sense whatsoever,” he added.
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Thorsland, on the other hand said he supported the right of the property owner to do what they want with their land.
“You don’t own your view. If you want to tell people what to do with what you see that isn’t yours, you have to buy it,” Thorsland said.
Sullard noted that Champaign County doesn’t having a complying ordinance — which is what led to the county being in this position. And, if a lawsuit happens, he doesn’t expect the county to win.
“What has been submitted in this plan complies with the state regulations and we don’t get to have an ordinance that says otherwise at the moment,” Sullard said. “So, when you talk about representing the people of Mahomet or the people of your community, who’s going to pay for that? Who’s going to pay for that damages that’s going to end up in higher taxes? Are we going to be able to come back to the people sitting out here and say, ‘You didn’t want it. We did what you wanted, but now you need to help us pay for the damages in the lawsuit.’”
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Moira Cronin, director of development for Summit Ridge Energy shared some changes that had been made to the project after speaking with the community.
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This includes:
No longer cutting down trees on the east side of the site
Committing a cash escrow up front for 100% of the decommisioning
Have an agrologist inspect the site each year for invasive species
During the meeting, Cronin added that Summit Ridge Energy decided to commit $100,000 to the Mahomet Community Fund to directly benefit the Mahomet community.
Summit Ridge Energy said anyone who would like to share additional input can reach out to community@srenergy.com.
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