Boone County officials could take months to approve solar ordinance Most Popular

Boone County officials could take months to approve solar ordinance

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By Susan Vela
Staff writer

Posted Dec 6, 2017 at 10:38 PM Updated Dec 6, 2017 at 10:40 PM

BELVIDERE — Boone County officials debated new rules meant to regulate solar farms on Wednesday, and there was no consensus after about two hours of discussion.

Land Use Planner Hilary Rottmann told members of the Planning, Zoning and Building Committee she would review their concerns about setbacks, screening, fencing and other matters for further talks next month.

Once the committee approves the ordinance, it must go before other bodies like the Zoning Board of Appeals and the County Board before Boone County has clear guidelines for solar enterprises.

The rigorous process could further delay Cypress Creek Renewables’ plan to bring Boone County its first solar farms — along Reeds Crossing Road between Genoa and Spring Center roads, and off of Illinois 173, east of Capron.

Also, TerraNavigator wants to construct a solar energy project on a closed landfill along Illinois Route 76, north of Belvidere. A formal presentation is expected this month.

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“It was a very good continuation of the discussion,” said Denny Ellingson, the committee chairman, after Wednesday’s lengthy discussion. “We got much more in depth tonight and got a lot more out in the open.”

The draft ordinance is five pages long and requires such things as structures not exceeding 30 feet in height, fencing six feet high, and noise levels that should not be detectable by the human ear at 500 feet from the property line.

Much of Wednesday’s debate was spent on how to ensure that facilities are properly removed after their useful life is up.

“I would like to know the weight, the volume, the ability to remove any of the items to either the recycling yards, the steelyards or to the landfills if that’s required,” committee member Marshall Newhouse said.

Tricia Gieseke, who lives in the 7700 block of Reeds Crossing Road, near the proposed development, said solar panels don’t belong near her home.

“There is an industrial park in Boone County where solar energy could be built,” she said, reading from a statement. “There is the vacant Kmart land that was once farm ground that could also be used instead of eliminating prime agricultural ground on Reeds Crossing.

“There are better choices for this commercial operation.”

Susan Vela: 815-987-1392; svela@rrstar.com; @susanvela

Above is from:  http://www.rrstar.com/news/20171206/boone-county-officials-could-take-months-to-approve-solar-ordinance