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County's Zoning Board Endorses Solar Project Plans

Susan Montoya Bryan
/
AP
Cypress Creek Renewables wants to build the county’s first three commercial solar installations near Arrowsmith and Downs.";

The Zoning Board of Appeals has unanimously endorsed plans to bring the first three solar projects to McLean County.

The ZBA voted Wednesday to recommend approval of the three special-use permit applications. Cypress Creek wants to build three separate solar installations, two in Arrowsmith and one in Downs, on 20 to 30 acres of property it will lease. Each one will cost $3.9 million and produce enough electricity to power 300 to 400 single-family homes. Cypress Creek plans to sell the power to Ameren.

Cypress Creek bills itself as the largest and fastest-growing dedicated provider of local solar farms. It’s already won approval to install solar projects in six Illinois counties, hoping McLean County is next.

County Building and Zoning Director Phil Dick said the ZBA only asked for minor changes to the original plans, including moving a fence on the Downs property by a few feet.

The McLean County Board will take a final vote on the applications Feb. 20.

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Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.
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