It’s a sigh of relief for a few Crossville residents as the White County Board’s decision puts a halt to another solar farm in their area.
During the August monthly board meeting, members of the County board heard from a handful of individuals who were opposed to another solar farm in White County, especially in their neck of the woods. https://www.wrul.com/local-news/pivot-energy-and-floodplain-ordinance-tabled-wurst-new-ema-director/
If you look at the ones already in the County, Enfield and Centerville, they are not keeping up to code on screenings, upkeep with vegetation, and have destroyed roads, and the value of what it’s like living in the country.
Wednesday night’s meeting was the big finale, for now, for the Crossville solar farm project with Pivot Energy. A new representative from the company was in attendance to promote the project. Still, one resident, Tiffany James, came prepared to show the board just how detrimental the Centerville solar project has been and how the company, Ameren, appears to be unconcerned with the project’s outcomes.
James presented a poster filled with pictures of her house surrounded by solar panels that have no or very little screening. The trees have died in the area, and there has been no help from Ameren to fix the roads or provide some comfort in her family’s situation, which they have been battling for months.
James thanked County Engineer Brian Ray for fixing the road that Ameren destroyed, but James wants the County board to do better when it comes to who oversees the problems the solar companies bring.
“I know there’s a new solar on the agenda. I’m asking you guys to please, please, please, don’t take on more until you can handle what you got. Nobody should have to go through what I have. My kid was followed up the driveway, I got no help.”
When James finally got a hold of a representative from Ameren, she was told this,
“I was able to review the permit application but did not find a screening plan as part of the application. The permit is very vague, stating vegetative screening is required, but does not define what screening is. Ameren believes that all permit requirements are met or might be met after the trees bloom.”
Board members discussed how to reprimand the company, stating that they would send a letter stating that, according to the ordinance, if the violations are not addressed, the County will implement a $750 per week fine.
Nick Sandford, a land use and zoning attorney from Chicago and working with Pivot Energy, added his insight into the potential Crossville project and emphasized that the project has met all the requirements set by the state. Sandford addressed the concerns of James and the residents, stating the same as past companies: sheep will be used to keep vegetation down, panels will have screenings to help with glare, etc.
When it came to the highly anticipated moment in the meeting that the board would have to make their final decision on the project, State’s Attorney Chris Neal stressed that if the project passes both state and local ordinances and the board voted no, the County would open itself up to legal action.
That’s all, thanks to Governor Pritzker’s House Bill 4412, which was passed in January 2023. The bill prohibits local governments from having more restrictive rules than the state, which prevents local bans on renewable energy development. There is a mandated approval process for counties. If a County denies the project, it is vulnerable to being sued by the solar company, especially if it meets all standards set by the state and local governmental bodies.
Chairwoman Cassie Pigg opened up the motion to approve the solar project, but no member agreed; in the end, it was denied. This decision, in response to the community’s concerns, means that no solar project from Pivot Energy will be created, for now, alleviating the immediate worries of residents.