A conversation about potential wind and solar power projects filled every seat — and some of the hallway — in the room where the Richland County Board of Commissioners met Thursday. County residents, several township trustees and at least one electrical union representative were all in attendance to hear the three-member board’s decision regarding proposed legislation... Ultimately, commissioners voted unanimously to declare portions of Richland County’s unincorporated areas be “restricted areas prohibiting construction of economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar facilities.” These restricted areas include Bloominggrove, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Plymouth, Sharon, Troy and Weller townships. Trustees in all of those townships had asked commissioners for the restriction... During the vote, Commissioner Cliff Mears also voted yes, “because we (commissioners) can’t turn our backs on what the townships have asked.”

A conversation about potential wind and solar power projects filled every seat — and some of the hallway — in the room where the Richland County Board of Commissioners met Thursday. County residents, several township trustees and at least one electrical union representative were all in attendance to hear the three-member board’s decision regarding proposed legislation... Ultimately, commissioners voted unanimously to declare portions of Richland County’s unincorporated areas be “restricted areas prohibiting construction of economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar facilities.” These restricted areas include Bloominggrove, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Plymouth, Sharon, Troy and Weller townships. Trustees in all of those townships had asked commissioners for the restriction... During the vote, Commissioner Cliff Mears also voted yes, “because we (commissioners) can’t turn our backs on what the townships have asked.”

A conversation about potential wind and solar power projects filled every seat — and some of the hallway — in the room where the Richland County Board of Commissioners met Thursday. County residents, several township trustees and at least one electrical union representative were all in attendance to hear the three-member board’s decision regarding proposed legislation... Ultimately, commissioners voted unanimously to declare portions of Richland County’s unincorporated areas be “restricted areas prohibiting construction of economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar facilities.” These restricted areas include Bloominggrove, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Plymouth, Sharon, Troy and Weller townships. Trustees in all of those townships had asked commissioners for the restriction... During the vote, Commissioner Cliff Mears also voted yes, “because we (commissioners) can’t turn our backs on what the townships have asked.”

A conversation about potential wind and solar power projects filled every seat — and some of the hallway — in the room where the Richland County Board of Commissioners met Thursday. County residents, several township trustees and at least one electrical union representative were all in attendance to hear the three-member board’s decision regarding proposed legislation... Ultimately, commissioners voted unanimously to declare portions of Richland County’s unincorporated areas be “restricted areas prohibiting construction of economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar facilities.” These restricted areas include Bloominggrove, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Plymouth, Sharon, Troy and Weller townships. Trustees in all of those townships had asked commissioners for the restriction... During the vote, Commissioner Cliff Mears also voted yes, “because we (commissioners) can’t turn our backs on what the townships have asked.”

A conversation about potential wind and solar power projects filled every seat — and some of the hallway — in the room where the Richland County Board of Commissioners met Thursday. County residents, several township trustees and at least one electrical union representative were all in attendance to hear the three-member board’s decision regarding proposed legislation... Ultimately, commissioners voted unanimously to declare portions of Richland County’s unincorporated areas be “restricted areas prohibiting construction of economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar facilities.” These restricted areas include Bloominggrove, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Plymouth, Sharon, Troy and Weller townships. Trustees in all of those townships had asked commissioners for the restriction... During the vote, Commissioner Cliff Mears also voted yes, “because we (commissioners) can’t turn our backs on what the townships have asked.”

A conversation about potential wind and solar power projects filled every seat — and some of the hallway — in the room where the Richland County Board of Commissioners met Thursday. County residents, several township trustees and at least one electrical union representative were all in attendance to hear the three-member board’s decision regarding proposed legislation... Ultimately, commissioners voted unanimously to declare portions of Richland County’s unincorporated areas be “restricted areas prohibiting construction of economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar facilities.” These restricted areas include Bloominggrove, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Plymouth, Sharon, Troy and Weller townships. Trustees in all of those townships had asked commissioners for the restriction... During the vote, Commissioner Cliff Mears also voted yes, “because we (commissioners) can’t turn our backs on what the townships have asked.”

A conversation about potential wind and solar power projects filled every seat — and some of the hallway — in the room where the Richland County Board of Commissioners met Thursday. County residents, several township trustees and at least one electrical union representative were all in attendance to hear the three-member board’s decision regarding proposed legislation... Ultimately, commissioners voted unanimously to declare portions of Richland County’s unincorporated areas be “restricted areas prohibiting construction of economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar facilities.” These restricted areas include Bloominggrove, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Plymouth, Sharon, Troy and Weller townships. Trustees in all of those townships had asked commissioners for the restriction... During the vote, Commissioner Cliff Mears also voted yes, “because we (commissioners) can’t turn our backs on what the townships have asked.”

A conversation about potential wind and solar power projects filled every seat — and some of the hallway — in the room where the Richland County Board of Commissioners met Thursday. County residents, several township trustees and at least one electrical union representative were all in attendance to hear the three-member board’s decision regarding proposed legislation... Ultimately, commissioners voted unanimously to declare portions of Richland County’s unincorporated areas be “restricted areas prohibiting construction of economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar facilities.” These restricted areas include Bloominggrove, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Plymouth, Sharon, Troy and Weller townships. Trustees in all of those townships had asked commissioners for the restriction... During the vote, Commissioner Cliff Mears also voted yes, “because we (commissioners) can’t turn our backs on what the townships have asked.”

The Adams County Board denied a special use permit Tuesday for a 3.4-megawatt solar farm just off Ghost Hollow Road in the Melrose Township. Pivot Energy is proposing the project, which has met all state requirements. In 2023, Governor JB Pritzker signed P.A. 102-1123 into law, which preempts county authority to enact local ordinances that prohibit wind and solar projects. This comes on the heels of the County Board’s vote in May to allow a solar farm just outside of Ursa. Before that vote, which was 11-8 for approval, Adams County State’s Attorney Todd Eyler said “We are required to follow the state statute.” Dave Bellis (R-District 3) said Pivot had “checked all of the boxes as far as state rules,” but said he wasn’t “a solar guy.” That being said, he ended with “We are following state rules.”...Joe Zanger (R-District 7), who represents the area where the Ghost Hollow Road solar farm is proposed, brought up pending state legislation that could potentially override the current law. Eyler said he hasn’t read the legislation, but “Illinois legislation moves slower than the courts” and if you’re not in the majority party “good luck,” which, of course, our local representatives are not. But the County Board chose to buck the state statute this time by a 12-8 vote. As far as the members who represent that area, both Zanger and Brent Fischer (R-District 7) voted to deny the permit while Russ Hinkamper (R-District 7) voted to approve.

The King George County Board of Supervisors denied a special exception permit to construct a utility scale solar facility and livestock operation following a public hearing Tuesday night. The board voted 4-1 to deny the permit to Open Road Renewables and Gibson Solar I, LLC, which sought to erect the solar panels on approximately 890 acres of private land made up of 48 parcels adjacent to Kings Highway at the intersection of Big Timber Road. The applicants were also requesting a determination that the solar facility is in accordance with the county’s comprehensive plan.... Board Chair William Davis of the Dahlgren District said the project had merit, but his vote against it came down to how it might affect water in the county and the freedoms of surrounding landowners. “You hear comments like, ‘It’s our land’ and ‘Don’t tell us what to do with my land’ and ‘If I want to cut down all the trees,’ and all those things and you’re right,” Davis said. “Unless what you’re doing affects the people’s freedoms beside you because they have freedoms that need to be protected as well. Your freedom ends at the end of my nose. You reach the end of my nose; I have the right to protect myself.”