The Will County Board voted Thursday to reject a proposed solar farm in Green Garden Township near Monee while approving a separate project near Manhattan in New Lenox Township. The board also delayed action on a third solar facility in Manhattan Township to allow the developer to address concerns raised by local officials.
The rejected project in Green Garden Township included plans by US Solar to construct a 4-megawatt solar facility spanning approximately 40.5 acres at 25740 80th Ave., Monee. The vote was 11 against, eight in favor, with three abstentions. Opposition was driven by concerns over fire risk due to tall vegetation, potential impacts on property values, and the character of nearby residential areas, particularly the adjacent Charlevoix subdivision. Green Garden Township officials and the Monee Fire Protection District formally opposed the proposal. Township Supervisor Dean Christofilos expressed the community’s distress, emphasizing frequent resident calls and urging the board to act in their interests. Additionally, the township's Watershed Committee highlighted issues relating to county wetland regulations.
The landowner, Steven Molter, defended the project, stating that the solar panels would be largely hidden due to land contours and cited financial needs as motivation for converting farmland for solar use.
In contrast, the board approved a plan by Arena Renewables for two 5-megawatt solar plants on about 80 acres at 22939 Spencer Road in New Lenox Township. The vote was narrow, splitting largely along party lines at 12-11, with County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant casting the decisive vote in favor. While the property lies within New Lenox’s planning territory, neighboring municipalities such as Frankfort, Mokena, and Manhattan are located within roughly 1.5 miles. New Lenox officials opposed the project on grounds that it conflicted with the village’s comprehensive plan, which prioritizes residential development. The village also declined to grant road access for the solar farm. The project’s attorney, Ben Jacobi, committed to pre-construction soil testing and a defined lease schedule, assuring that the solar installation would not degrade soil quality.
Regarding the third project, the board postponed consideration of a 5-megawatt solar farm combined with a battery energy storage system proposed by Cultivate Power on 153 acres at 15520 W. Baker Road in Manhattan Township. The solar panels would cover approximately 52 acres, with the battery storage occupying about 10 acres. Manhattan Township officials met with the developer on August 31 and unanimously opposed the plan, citing a township policy prohibiting battery storage facilities. Concerns also included potential interference with a planned bike path by the Forest Preserve District of Will County and the anticipated number of overhead electrical poles required for grid connections.
Board members expressed broader unease about the rapid proliferation of solar farms, with some describing it as an “invasion” of agricultural land. Several members acknowledged frustration with state laws that limit local authority over solar project siting, despite lobbying efforts for greater county-level control. Others warned that rejecting projects could expose the county to costly litigation.
The actions reflect continuing tensions in Will County between advancing renewable energy initiatives and protecting local land use priorities.