OREGON — The Ogle County Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval last month of a special use permit for Community Energy Initiative, LLC, to construct a 3.5 MW commercial solar facility on 25 acres along the 8000 block of N. Pecatonica Road in Leaf River Township. The board’s September 25th hearing found the project meets all standards, including compatibility with surrounding uses, minimal impact on neighboring property values, adequate access and utilities, and visual buffering with landscaping and fencing. The permit was approved by the Ogle County Board by a vote of 11-10.
Chairman Dan Janes of the Planning and Zoning Commission said that the state limits how local lawmakers can deny solar installations
“People are upset with Governor Pritzker and the way he’s handled the bill that passed this. The state statute is poorly written. And so, people are pretty much tired of anybody pushing back on the local taxpayer,” he said. “And we’re going to get more of this, I believe, as we go on in days to come, because Chicago doesn’t dictate the rest of Illinois, even though they think they do.”
