Please send in your written support and attend your local hearings.

By Joyce Blumenshine

Three exciting, new, large utility-scale solar farms will be going through local approval processes in this new year. If you are a resident of the project county, please help by sending in supportive comments to your local county board or attending a hearing in person to let officials know that you support solar energy. Local counties receive greatly needed added tax revenue from these facilities and the funds help school districts and other public needs. Farmers benefit from receiving regular payments for the use of their land, which will be planted with pollinator friendly species that can help enrich the soil for eventual return to farming.

The new projects coming up in 2022 are:

Knox County – Blackberry Solar 50 MWac located in unincorporated Knox County southeast of Galesburg. City Parcel Planning and Zoning Commission, January 11. County Zoning Board hearing February 2. County Board Meeting, February 23 at the Galesburg City Hall Council Chambers, 55 W. Tompkins St., Galesburg. Check the Knox County website for updated information as calendaring for 2022 is not yet entered.

Peoria County – Cornwell Solar 40 MWac located in unincorporated Peoria County, near Monica. Peoria County Board Zoning Hearing February 10. County Board Meeting Vote on March 10. Both will be held in Peoria County Building, 324 Main St., Room 403, Peoria. Check the Peoria County website for more information closer to the meeting date.

Tazewell County – Bunker Solar 40 MWac located near Marquette Heights. The Tazewell County Board of Appeals meetings hearing is March 1 and the County Board Meeting Vote is March 30. Both will be held at the Tazewell County Justice Center, 101 S. Capitol St., Pekin. Watch the Tazewell County website for more information.

Check out additional information about the projects from Trajectory Energy Partners.