ADAMS COUNTY, Ill. (KHQA) — After representatives refused to move a proposed solar farm project in Ursa last week, the Adams County Board held a public meeting to hear concerns about the proposal.
Greenkey Solar, based in Oregon, has proposed a 4-megawatt, 27-acre solar farm that would sit near residential homes in Ursa.
The board, which is being asked to approve a special use permit for the project, wanted an opportunity to ask questions of Greenkey.
Greenkey Solar Project Manager Desiree Noisette pitched the positives of the project to the board and residents.
“This commercial solar facility has no impact beyond the perimeter. There’s no smell, there’s no noise, there’s no light pollution, there’s really nothing that spills out over the property lines when it comes to this project,” Noisette said.
However, the project raised some concern among board members, including questions about what would happen if the solar farm were ever decommissioned.
“I have heard rumors of after having solar panels on a property that the soil is no longer fit to put agricultural type products back on the land. Is that true or has that been studied?” Asked Russ Hinkamper, Adams County Board Member.
Many residents also attended the meeting, voicing their disapproval of the project and expressing concerns about how the project could negatively affect property values.
“It’s when people come up to me and say, ‘I wouldn’t want that in my backyard,’ and to me that’s an indication, that should tell you enough right there that we are, and I think most of the people on Ash Street are definitely concerned about home values,” said Tim Hightower.
One resident, Doug Seeber, along with others, has been working with Greenkey representatives to come up with alternatives for the project.
He said the project could also negatively affect trees in the area, referencing how plants near a cell phone tower built next to the property have died.
“It has baby arbor vinings that continue to die out and get replanted and none of those in five years have even reached the height of the fence that’s around it,” Seeber said. “So with a 30-year life on this solar farm, we may never see these trees looking like the pictures that they were showing on that display.”
The board will vote May 13 on whether the special permit will be administered for the project.
