The Will County Board not too long ago accredited two photo voltaic farm initiatives in Crete Township proposed by Soltage LLC, with a situation of a snake survey on one of many initiatives.
Crete Cottage Grove Solar 1 will probably be a photo voltaic farm at South Cottage Grove and West Munz Road and Crete Goodenow Solar 1 will probably be a photo voltaic farm at East Goodenow and Dutton roads, mentioned Stephanie Sienkowski, director of growth for Soltage.
Both initiatives may have battery power storage programs, which required particular use permits, Sienkowski mentioned. The initiatives had been accredited in separate 13-9 votes Aug. 17 by the county board.
Sienkowski mentioned for the Crete Goodenow Solar 1 undertaking, the county would require a strong fence as an alternative of a chain-link fence and a snake survey.
“There was the potential for a threatened or endangered snake species on the site, and we have to do a survey and make sure none of those snakes are on the site,” Sienkowski mentioned.
If snakes are discovered on the land, Sienkowski mentioned the corporate has agreed to observe Illinois Department of Natural Resources and federal pointers for shielding endangered and threatened species.
The Crete Goodenow Solar 1 undertaking will probably be constructed on almost 30 acres and create 3.5 megawatts of energy for about 775 properties, Sienkowski mentioned. The Crete Cottage Grove Solar 1 undertaking will probably be constructed on almost 34 acres and create 3.42 megawatts for 750 properties, she mentioned.
Homeowners will be capable to subscribe by a 3rd occasion aggregator to get energy, she mentioned.
“We’re really thrilled about it,” Sienkowski mentioned. “We’re happy that the county and the state are so open to solar.”
Sienkowski mentioned work nonetheless must be accomplished to achieve an interconnection settlement with ComEd and create ultimate engineering plans for building permits.
During the 40 years life expectancy of the initiatives, Sienkowski mentioned the corporate maintains the land and crops pollinators. Once eliminated, the corporate ensures the land isn’t ruined.
“At the end of the day, the project restores the land,” Sienkowski mentioned.
County board member Frankie Pretzel, a Republican from New Lenox, mentioned he supported the initiatives primarily as a result of a recent state regulation redefines county governments’ potential to control new industrial wind and photo voltaic power initiatives. The regulation prohibits county authorities from banning or establishing moratoriums on wind and photo voltaic growth and establishes siting and zoning requirements.
“Our legal team is telling us that we don’t have a choice on these solar farms. Instead of going into a legal battle that I don’t think we’d win, I voted in favor of the solar farms,” Pretzel mentioned.
Board member Sherry Newquist, a Democrat from Steger, mentioned she helps photo voltaic farms and voted in favor of the initiatives to learn her district.
“I felt comfortable moving ahead and approving it,” Newquist mentioned. “It can have a direct economic benefit for people if they subscribe to the project.”
