Getty Solar Farm

 The Getty solar farm is nearing completion. Probably a good 20 to 30 acres of solar panels. Despite Rep. Mike Bost's complaining, no "prime farmland" was taken out of production for its installation

Planning Commission and Solar Farm

 Planning Commission is looking to approve ( or disapprove ) a solar farm off West Sycamore.  I have seen a few complaints posted on social media about locating it so close to to residential areas but, as far as I know, there have never been any health or safety problems associated with solar farms. 

In addition, there is another solar farm going on old Highway 13

. Call to Order and Roll Call

2. Approval of Minutes: None

3. Citizen Comments and Questions

4. Report of Officers, Committees, Communications

5. Public Hearings/Plan Review

PC 25-10: Development Services staff are initiating the rezoning of property on parcel

number 15-17-327-023 from PUD, Planned Unit Development, to AG, General

Agriculture, in accordance with §15.2.15.16.C of Carbondale Revised Code. As the

property was never developed as a PUD, the Code calls for it to revert back to its

previous zoning district designation.

PC 25-11: Arena Knight 1 Solar, LLC is requesting a Special Use Permit to construct,

operate, and maintain a 3.8 Megawatt (MW) utility-grade solar project on parcel number

15-17-376-013 at 1914 Sycamore Street in an AG, General Agriculture-zoned District.

PC 25-12: Arena Knight 2 Solar, LLC is requesting a Special Use Permit to construct,

operate, and maintain a 3.0 Megawatt (MW) utility-grade solar project on parcel number

15-17-376-013 at 1914 Sycamore Street zoned AG, General Agriculture, and parcel

number 15-17-327-023 at the terminus of Baine Drive zoned PUD, Planned Unit

Development, contingent on the approval of rezoning parcel 15-17-376-023 from PUD to

AG (PC 25-10).

Solar Project

The city awarded a contract to install solar panels on the roofs of the civic center, waste treatment center and the public safety center (police station). Expected savings to the city are projected at $1.5 million over 25 year. Solar installer Straight Up Solar out of Bloomington IL got the contract for the development of the project

National Solar Tour

Local solar energy provider AES Solar will host a stop(s) on the National Solar Tour on October 5, although the stops in the region have yet to be set. From the press release:

"The event, slated for October 5th, showcases the solar technologies your neighbors are using to 1) drastically reduce monthly energy bills, 2) reduce harmful carbon emissions, and 3) enjoy rich tax credits and cash incentives as they improve their property values.

“The ASES National Solar Tour shows families and businesses real-life examples of how their neighbors are harnessing free energy from the sun to generate electricity, warm and cool their homes, heat water, and slash monthly utility bills,” AES Solar founder Aur Beck said."

Solar Educaton

Want to learn more about solar energy? JALC and Advanced Energy Solutions Group will host a series of public meetings on the topic:

John A. Logan College and Advanced Energy Solutions Group are conducting a series of public meetings to educate Illinois residents about smart grid and smart meter technology as well as a bulk buy opportunity for solar power. Six events will be held, all open to the public, and one lucky attendee will win a free SolarWorld 285 watt solar module, valued at $350.

The presentations will provide context about upgrades being made to the state's electric grid and what that means for consumers. Several resources are readily available by visiting the website smartpowerillinois.org

In addition, AES Solar invites the public to learn about their current 'Go Solar Southern Illinois' program which offers participants tiered discounts based on how much cumulative solar power will be purchased through the program, which runs until December 10. The goal is to amass 100 kilowatts or more, and then everyone involved will enjoy a 20% discount on their modules, inverters, and racking.

All meetings will offer light complimentary refreshments, and more information is also available at aessolar.com/gosolar

• October 29, 9-11 am at JALC West Frankfort extension
• November 2, 6-8 pm at Design Center, 121 S. Illinois Avenue (train depot), Carbondale
• November 9, 6-8 pm at Mackie's Pizza, Marion
• November 16, 6-8 pm at JALC DuQuoin Extension, Room 1
• November 30, 6-8 pm at Tres Hombres, Carbondale
• December 6, 6-8 pm at JALC main campus, Carterville

Brightfield's Voting

Voting by council on the special uses permit for the Brightfield's solar array project takes place at the council meeting next Tuesday evening. In a letter to the editor, councilwoman Jessica Bradshaw says she will support the permit. I have heard second hand that council members Lance Jack and Corene McDaniels lean towards supporting it as well and I get the feeling Mayor Don Monty leans towards it as well. I have not heard how council members Jane Adams, Lee Fronabarger or Carolin Harvey will vote, but would guess that since Adams is a supporter of the Gigabit project for Carbondale, a similar forward looking project like Brightfield's would appeal to her.

BrightFields Opposition

From what I have heard, most of the opposition to the BrightFields solar array is not due to opposition to solar power in general but opposition to doing anything with that particular parcel of contaminated property at all. I gather  that, once the EPA approved the property as finally cleaned up, they just want to leave it sit for fear that more contamination might take place.

From what I understand, the property will be cleaned up (sometime), meaning that, although I would not want to put a house on it, use of the property for an industrial application such as a solar array should be a perfectly feasible use of the land, rather than just leaving it sit. If someone can explain why the property should just remain empty, rather than put to productive use, I certainly hope you would post in the comments.