Custer solar project voted down by Will County Land Use

On Sept. 10, the Will County Land Use and Development Committee rejected a Special Use Permit for the 3,600-acre solar energy plant planned for Custer and Reed townships.
All five members of the committee voted unanimously to reject the special use permit, throwing a monkey wrench into plans for the solar energy plant.
In Nov., 2021, ACCIONA Energia presented a plan to construct a solar energy plant in Custer Township on farmland between Essex Road east to Ohlhues south of Illinois 113
There were mixed feelings about the plan. Some landowners offered to lease their land to ACCIONA to develop the solar energy plant.
Others, who feared a drop in property values, and didn’t wish to live amidst steel and glass, protested, some putting their concerns in writing.
One objector, Nancy Fitzpatrick of Custer Park, who owns several parcels in the area, wants nothing to do with the proposed solar energy plant.
In correspondence between Fitzpatrick and Marguerite Kenny, Will County Zoning Administrator, Fitzpatrick stated:
“This project would not come to fruition on its own merit without federal and state incentives, such as Investment Tax Credits, the costs of which are borne by the taxpayers... Additionally, if those incentives became unavailable, it would leave the landowners with a potential clean up if the company abandons the project or fails to fund or decommission the development properly...”
Fitzpatrick stated that the fenced solar energy farm will cause displacement of rabbits, deer, raccoons, and turtles.
While not objecting to the solar energy plant, per se, Kyle Burkwald of the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources took a firm stand on endangered species. Burkwald pointed out that Blanding’s Turtle and the Ornate Box Turtle, as well as other endangered plants and animals, are native to the area of the proposed solar farm.
He provided a nine-page, detailed list of actions to be taken while constructing and the administration of the solar energy plant to “avoid adversely impacting listed species...”
Wanda Alderson of Custer Park wrote: “It is eating up our farmland. I believe there are better places to put the solar farms. Why not put them on top of the warehouses that have been built in the county?”
Losing the war
Those who object to ACCIONA’S solar energy plant may have won a battle, but they may lose the war.
In Sept. 2023, Gov. JG Pritzker signed the Climate Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) into law, putting the state on a path toward 100 percent clean energy by 2050, with 50 percent of clean energy by 2030.
As a result, 15 counties with the most land available for wind and solar plants had passed or were about to pass, restrictions on wind turbines and solar energy plants.
To show Illinois that he was dead serious, the governor signed legislation protecting Illinois clean energy projects from local bans. HB4412, signed on Feb. 6, 2023, prevents counties from enacting preemptive local ordinances that outright ban local wind and solar projects.
Essentially, the government left counties powerless and at the mercy of approved wind and solar projects.
They mean business
ACCIONA describes itself as a global group that develops and manages sustainable infrastructure solutions, especially renewable energy.
The World Benchmarking Alliance describes the corporation as a “multinational conglomerate.” Make no mistake, ACCIONA is a multibillion dollar player in the world market, accustomed to winning.
ACCIONA’S history of litigation is impressive with multi-million lawsuits for projects in Nevada, Canada, Australia and more.
ACCIONA is powerful and has deep pockets, and if their plans are deep-sixed they will most certainly fight. And with Pritzker behind them, they will most likely win.
Though the land use committee voted the special permit for a solar energy plant down, on Aug. 20, the Will County Planning and Zoning Committee approved the special permit, four to one (who abstained), with six conditions.
The case will be brought before the will County Board on Tuesday, Sept. 17. We will report on the outcome in our Sept. 25 issue.