Plano Skies Energy Center LLC is offering a 2,000-acre solar facility in Kendall County, north of Plano, and will be held Thursday, June 30 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Procool, 115 E. South. , Suite C, in Plano.
According to the Plano Skies website, when the facility is fully built, it will be able to generate enough energy to power 20,000 to 60,000 Illinois average homes per year on 2,000 acres.
Some of the land is currently within Plano’s municipal boundaries, but most is in unincorporated Little Rock.
According to the developer, the facility will create 200 to 350 jobs in Kendall County during the construction phase and 1 to 5 permanent, long-term local jobs during the operation phase.
The developer estimates that the facility will generate $14 million to $30 million in tax revenue over the expected 35-year life of the project, helping to fund local school districts, district infrastructure improvements, and municipal services such as first responders.
Plano Mayor Mike Rennels said the city has not yet taken any formal action on the proposal, but confirmed that city and Kendall County officials participated in an information meeting with the developer earlier this year.
The project site will either be fully annexed and become part of Plano, or the portion currently in the city could be de-annexed, leaving the project site in unincorporated Kendall County, Rennels said.
Renells said he was willing to listen to the wishes of the people of Plano, but in his personal opinion, he would rather see the annexation of additional land than give the existing urban area to the county, canceling the annexation.
“I will do what the citizens want,” Reynells said. “But in my personal opinion, I wouldn’t want part of the city to be permanently lost to the county and then have no say in the process.”
Rennels also said land used for solar farms is taxed at higher rates than typical agricultural land currently in use.
According to Reynolds, if Plano annexed the property, it would permanently expand Plano’s boundaries and the city would receive over 1,000 acres of unincorporated land at a higher tax rate than strictly agricultural land.
According to the company’s website, the 2,000 acres will include all components of the project, including solar panels, walkways and other infrastructure needed to operate the facility.
The facility will generate electricity for the PJM network by connecting to the ComEd power lines in the project area.
There was some feedback from the public on Facebook, Rennels said, noting that those who opposed the facility spoke out the most.
Plano Skies will hold a series of public meetings on the first Thursday to inform the public of the company’s intentions and details of the project before seeking city or county approval.
Post time: Dec-23-2022