County approves solar farm
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By Jacob Hamm
TUSCOLA— After a nearly two year process, Denver, Colo., based Pivot Energy has been cleared to construct a solar farm in the northern part of Douglas County.
The company first approached Douglas County in late 2024 about the proposed development. Since then, there have been several public hearings regarding the matter.
The site will host a 5-megawatt solar panel farm located near Route 45 and County Road 1550 N that will span 60 acres of the 250 acre site. The lifespan of the project will be 20 years, with the possibility of up to two extensions.
The site will be barricaded with a fence on all four sides and evergreen trees lining the northern portion near County Road 1550 N. Pivot Energy said it will work with local experts to determine which species of trees would work best with the local landscape. The developer pushed to only fence the northern border of the property but the County Board required the project to be fully fenced in per the county’s ordinance. The fencing will sit back 50 feet from the roads bordering the property. The county said it will not be held liable if there are issues that arise with the project.
The Board added a condition to the project that Pivot Energy pays 100 percent of the decommissioning bond up front prior to construction. Project Development Execution Manager Merrill Read reassured the Board that the company will pay the entirety of the bond prior to construction, which is typical of the company’s practice.
County Board Member Mary Appleby discussed other counties in the state taking solar developers to court regarding the health and welfare of neighbors and nearby residents. The 3rd Appellate Court in Illinois ruled in favor of the energy developers stating that county and city governments cannot deny permits if the state and local ordinances are followed. However, the 4th Appellate Court ruled in favor of the municipalities. The decisions are likely headed to the Illinois Supreme Court due to the conflicting rulings.
The Board ultimately approved the project in a 5–2 vote, with Dan Henry and Ed Carleton casting the two no votes. Board Member Gary Luth spoke in support of the project before the vote.
“I intend to vote for this, and I feel compelled to explain why. Number one, we haven’t seen the opposition from the public the way we did with the wind farm, so that’s somewhat comforting. I assume many of our constituents feel comfortable with this. Number two, the regulations, I think, are very good. They’re as good as they can be from everything I’ve read to protect the landowner and the people of Douglas County. Number three, I happen to be a farm owner, and the right to do with your property as you want is pretty inherent and pretty strong in the farm community,” he said.
After the meeting, Pivot said it has worked with Douglas County officials and planning staff for more than three years to create solar projects that comply with local regulatons. “We have also worked with neighbors, community partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that our project will be a good neighbor and positive presence in the county.”
Pivot said, “These projects will generate more than $750,000 in tax revenue for Douglas County over 20 years, while creating enough local electricity to power approximately 2,400 homes. Pivot will donate $50,000 to support local nonprofit organizations. Our dual-use solar practices will use sheep grazing to create new opportunities for agriculture on the site while improving soil health.”
Pivot has been working in Illinois since 2017, developing over 20 solar projects that deliver American-made renewable energy and economic benefits to Illinois communities. “We look forward to continuing the relationships we’ve developed in Douglas County as we build and operate this project.”