The McLean County Board approved a pair of facilities in the eastern part of the county that will store energy produced when demand is low, and distribute when need is high.
Two special use permits approved Thursday night allow EDP Renewables North America to proceed with facilities in the Ellsworth and Arrowsmith areas. Jeff Jacobs, director of development of EDP, described the batteries, known as Battery Energy Storage Systems, or “BESS,” as similar to what’s in a cell phone, but on a larger scale. They store energy produced from wind and solar, and release it when needed.
“They can be charged from any generation source,” Jacobs said.
For instance, with solar, “A lot of times during the day, demand is low because folks are at work, they’re running around town. That is when the sun is shining the best,” he said.
Then, in the evening, that power can be released.
Along with strengthening the grid overall, he said the two 5- to 10-acre facilities will generate roughly $11 million in property taxes.
“The acreage is small relative to the very large $11 million impact in property taxes,” Jacobs said.
The board approved the measure on a voice vote after pulling it from the consent agenda, but William Friedrich and Mike O’Neil of District 2 expressed concerns about livestock. Friedrich said a nearby hog farm with 3,000 hogs and 7,500 babies would be hard-pressed to move them in the event of a fire.
O’Neil had similar concerns about a cattle farm, as well as the loss of farmland.
“This is good, productive farm ground. I think this is not a good place for it — to keep taking farm ground land out of production," he said.
Jacobs said EDP had worked to address concerns of area residents, including moving one of the facilities to the east in response to concerns from residents and feedback shared at the Zoning Board of Appeals hearing.
There was also an increase in vegetation to screen the units from view.
“We really want to make sure that voices are heard, and to the extent that's feasible, we’re able to address those concerns,” Jacobs said.
In a related matter, the county amended regulations around units such as these, bringing them in line with changes in state law.
The net effect was a loosening of requirements such as setbacks from property lines and the distance from a unit to another building. Despite that, the EDP battery units approved Thursday complied with the older, more stringent rules.
In other business, the board:
- Approved installation of a powder-activated carbon silo at its 136-acre water treatment plant at Lake Bloomington.
- Revised Connect Transit Go fees for public transportation in rural areas. Fees would be $4 within McLean County, and $8 outside McLean County for one-way trips. Seniors 65 and older and veterans will be $2 for in-county and $4 for out-of-county. Children 5 and younger would ride free when accompanied by an adult. The fees would generate an estimated $9,321 a year, amounting to 64% of the local match with the state.
