County Cites New Ordinance for Solar Hearing: Chairman Rex Goble clarified that the public hearing was required under the county’s new solar siting ordinance. This ordinance was not in place for previous projects like Darwin Ferry and County Run Solar. Goble emphasized the hearing’s role is to provide a public forum for new applications, not to promote or dictate land use for solar development.

EDP Details $250M Moonshine Solar Park: EDP’s Development Project Manager Jack Dinnie presented the Moonshine Solar Park, a $250 million investment in Johnson Township. The project encompasses 1,665 acres leased from 20 landowners and is projected to generate $23 million in tax revenue over its 35-year life. Construction is planned to start after the 2025 harvest, aiming for a 2027 operational date.

Suncode Presents 236-Acre Community Solar Project: Suncode Energy introduced its Summit Project, a 236-acre community solar development near Martinsville. It consists of six separate 5 MW projects that will feed directly into the local distribution grid, allowing Ameren customers to apply for bill discounts. The project is expected to generate $2.5 million for the Martinsville School District and power up to 7,000 homes.

Financial Safeguards Against Bankruptcy Outlined: Responding to resident questions, EDP’s Thomas Loturco detailed multiple financial protections. As a public company, EDP’s financials are transparent, and financing banks like JP Morgan Chase have step-in rights to cover obligations. Furthermore, a decommissioning bond, held in favor of the township and reviewed every five years, ensures funds are available for cleanup at the project’s end.

Property Value Impact Debated: Resident Dusty Hickox contested EDP’s assertion that the Moonshine Solar Park would not negatively affect his land and home value. EDP’s Thomas Loturco responded that Hickox’s farmland would remain productive and cited a third-party study from a similar project that found no impact on home values. Another resident, Tom Wernz, claimed his brother’s property near the Darwin solar farm has been devalued.

State Agreement to Mitigate Agricultural Impact: Developers addressed concerns about long-term soil health by referencing the state-mandated Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement (AIMA). EDP’s Jesse Eick explained the AIMA provides strict rules for protecting topsoil during construction and decommissioning. The Illinois Department of Agriculture is required to conduct inspections throughout the project’s life to ensure compliance and prevent soil mixing between properties.

Grid Capacity Constrains Future Growth: Representatives from both EDP and Suncode Energy stated their projects are sized to the grid’s maximum capacity. EDP’s Thomas Loturco said the grid is “so jammed right now” that significant new projects would need massive, expensive upgrades. Deric Wagner of Suncode added that Ameren makes the final determination on how much new generation the local grid can handle.

County Board’s Authority Clarified: When asked if the board would vote no on permits, it was explained that the board’s hands are legally tied if projects meet all ordinance requirements. If the solar companies are fully compliant with the county’s solar siting ordinance, a “no” vote would likely result in the county being sued by the developers for wrongful denial.

Developers Commit to Paying Prevailing Wages: In response to questions from local union hall representatives, both EDP and Suncode Energy confirmed they are required to pay prevailing wages for all construction jobs. The union members had stressed the importance of using experienced, local Clark County residents for the work on the multi-million-dollar solar construction sites.

Resident Cites “Imminent Domain” Feeling: Daniel Duzan expressed that the situation feels like “Imminent Domain” for neighbors not participating in solar leases. He argued that even though landowners signed voluntary agreements, adjacent property owners are the ones most affected. Project representatives countered that they are not taking land, but leasing it from willing sellers who have the right to do so.

Emergency Response Plans Required: Jennifer Hickox raised concerns about who would keep her family safe in a large-scale fire. Developers explained that creating and submitting a comprehensive emergency response plan is a required part of the formal application process. This plan would address coordination with local first responders for fire and other potential hazards.

Wind Energy Also Seeking Leases: Resident Bob Zellers noted that in addition to solar developers, he and his neighbors have also been contacted by wind energy companies looking to lease land. This suggests a broader push for renewable energy development across the region, extending beyond the two solar projects discussed at the hearing.