"Yes, under duress": Ursa solar farm permit approved

Quincy, Illinois (KHQA) — The controversial Ursa solar farm special permit for Green Key Solar was approved at the Adams County board meeting on May 13th, despite several residents and board members opposing it.

The meeting started with public comment, where five residents of Ursa voiced their grievances about this plan, with a couple close to tears.

The main concern was about the solar farm ruining the charm of the area and tanking property values.

“How many of you would like to live 150 feet from 10,140 solar panels on a 27-acre directly behind your residence?” One resident asked the board.

Tim Hightower said that 290 residents, out of the 600 people living in this village, signed a petition saying they did not want this solar farm.

Yet, some the members of the board claimed their hands were tied.

Hightower asked why the board was allowing public comment if it seems they aren’t taking their grievances seriously.

Green Key Solar Project Manager Desiree Noisette took the stand to say that she felt for the residents, but that Greenkey Solar “wants to be good stewards of the land and good neighbors.”

Noisette thanked the board for considering this project and the residents for having open communication. She said that Greenkey Solar agreed to add a six-foot black chain-link fence with black slates and two rows of evergreen trees that will reach 12 feet high at their full maturity, only on the western side of the farm.

“We do believe that we’ve met the burden of both the ordinance and the stature and have gone beyond that to try to provide a good compromise with the neighbors,” said Noisette.

In 2023, Ilinois signed into law the Public Act 102-1123, which limits a county’s ability to regulate and restricts new commercial wind and solar energy farms.

“It’s a north state, down state game. No one’s going to have a solar farm in Chicago, regardless of the setback. So, we are playing some north state, down state games here,” Chairman Bret Austin said.

So, if the board voted no, the landowner and Greenkey Solar could take suit against them for not following Illinois stature.

“They felt for the residents of that area, and they wanted more than what they could do, but their hands were tied, because if they don’t follow the state law, presumptively, there’s going to be consequences, one way or the other,” said Adams County States Attorney Todd Eyler.

After public comment and board debate, the board agreed to a roll call vote. In the end, 11 voted yes and eight voted no, approving the special permit for Green Key Solar to build a solar farm in Ursa.

“I’m pro-solar. I’m anti-government overreach. The most disrespectful thing I think the state of Illinois could do is make us vote on this knowing that we don’t have any real power in it. It’s cowardly. And it’s cowardly to put this on these people,” said board member Steve McQueen.

Green Key Solar Project Manager Noisette declined to comment.