Developer: Proposed solar farm in Crete would create $50K tax revenue, energy discounts for residents

Developers touted the tax benefits and energy savings possible from a proposed solar farm project in Crete during a public information session this week that drew questions from residents about potential for water contamination and runoff issues.

About 16 people attended Tuesday’s meeting, where Ironwood Renewables discussed its plan to annex into the village approximately 70 acres near Old Monee Road and South Sangamon Street for a solar farm, called Falconhead Solar.

Hamilton Carrier, the project developer for Ironwood Renewables, said the solar farm would be built on about 48 acres and generate five megawatts of energy.

The landowner and village officials have entered a pre-annexation agreement that the land will be annexed if the solar farm is built, Carrier said.

“It wouldn’t actually go into effect until the project is built,” Carrier said.

The development is expected to generate about $50,000 a year in tax revenue, Carrier said, which will be divided between school districts, the fire department and village.

Crete village administrator Michael Smith said the annexation still has to go through board approval, and the process will include a public hearing. Village officials look forward to the annexation and solar farm project because it will expand the village’s boundaries and offer a green source of energy, he said.

The company will enter an interconnection agreement with ComEd, Carrier said. The utility company will sell the energy the solar farm creates. Residents in Crete and surrounding towns could subscribe to the solar farm and receive a rebate of up to 20% on their utility bill, he said.

The solar panels, which are made up of 98% silicone, glass and plastic polymer, will be recycled after the project is decommissioned, Carrier said. Ironwood Renewables will lease the land for 20 years, he said.

At minimum, the solar farm is 100 feet away from other property lines, Carrier said, and an 8 foot fence will be built around the property.

The solar farm likely wouldn’t be operational until 2025, Carrier said, because the company plans to apply into the Illinois Adjustable Block Program, an incentive program supporting the development of new solar energy. The program accepts applications each June, so the company plans to apply next year, he said.

Ruth Reed, who attended the meeting to collect information for a friend who lives near the proposed project, asked about potential water pollution from the project.

Carrier said his company has been developing solar farms for seven years, and in his experience and the studies he’s read he has not seen evidence of solar farms polluting water.

Carrier pointed to a June 2015 study by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, which found that because the panel materials don’t mix with water or vaporize into the air “there is little, if any, risk of chemical releases to the environment during normal use.”

“We’re not going to be contaminating their water. Their wells are deep in the ground,” Carrier said.

Reed said the assurance didn’t convince her there wouldn’t be a problem with water contamination. She left the meeting still feeling concerned about the project, she said.

“I didn’t learn anything,” Reed said.

Linda and Scott Hoffmeyer, who live right next to the proposed project, attended the meeting and shared their concerns with the company representatives about water runoff from the solar farm property onto their property.

Michael Keith, a civil engineer with Atwell, the company tasked with civil engineering, landscaping, architecture and surveying the project, said plants and wildflowers will be planted throughout the property, which will help with water runoff.

The project developers will follow Illinois law and ensure that the water on the property moves through the property and doesn’t run off into nearby homes, he said.

“I will keep that water moving the same way,” Keith said.

Keith and the Hoffmeyers took a few moments during the discussion to look over a map of the project and discuss how it will impact their property.

Scott Hoffmeyer said after reviewing the map it appears that the back of their garage will be 213 feet away from the first panel near their house. After the meeting, they said they were still concerned with drainage issues.

“The response is what I expected,” Scott Hoffmeyer said.