Solar permitting — LaSalle County, Illinois
On file: public meetings, local news.
Very high saturation; one of Illinois's top solar counties; permissive SUP culture; stable. Permitting: LaSalle County: CUP or Special Use Permit in Agricultural; 150-ft max / 50-ft min setbacks. Track record: denial on record — DG I…
Permitting process
Local permitting pathway
LaSalle County: CUP or Special Use Permit in Agricultural (A-1) district.
Setbacks & buffers
50 ft from property lines; 50 ft from public roads
Spacing requirements
None codified.
Size restrictions
None codified; managed via CUP/SUP conditions
Penalties & bonding
Total penalty: +5 (Denial +5)
State-level permits & approvals
Local permit: Special Use Permit (SUP) in A-1 Agricultural zoning via county Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and/or County Board; process and conditions vary by county ordinance. ICC CPCN: Illinois Public Utilities Act §8-406 — Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity required for ALL generating facilities >2 MW, regardless of local SUP status; ICC process runs parallel to county SUP. PA 102-1123 (signed Jan 27, 2023): Preempts county ordinances that prohibit wind or solar; sets state minimum setback floor of ≥150 ft from non-participating property lines and ≥300 ft from occupied dwellings. Counties may set higher setbacks but not lower; wind/solar bans enacted before 2023 are invalidated. PA 103-0580 (Veto Session fall 2023): Trailer bill reinforcing PA 102-1123 preemption framework; addressed specific county attempts to circumvent preemption. CEJA 2021 (Climate & Equitable Jobs Act): Illinois RPS targets — 40% by 2030, 50% by 2040, 100% clean energy by 2045; IPA Illinois Shines program administers FEJA/CEJA incentive tranches for community and utility-scale solar.
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State policy & grid context
State RPS & clean energy policy
50% by 2040 (100% clean by 2045) | CEJA / PA 102-0662 (2021) | 3,000 MW IL Shines community solar target | 20 ILCS 3855
State incentive programs
Illinois Adjustable Block Program (Illinois Shines): 15-year SREC contracts for net-metered and community solar projects; administered by IL SHINES program. Solar for All (SFA): low-income community solar program with enhanced incentives. Illinois RPS: 50% renewable by 2040 (Future Energy Jobs Act); solar carve-out drives strong SREC demand. Net metering: available for ≤2 MW behind-the-meter systems (ComEd, Ameren IL). PACE financing: available in many IL counties. HB 4412 (2024): updated solar siting framework; county commission approval required for projects exceeding acreage thresholds in unincorporated areas. Utility: ComEd serves northern IL (Cook + 10 counties); Ameren Illinois serves central/southern IL; electric cooperatives serve rural downstate areas.
Grid & interconnection
MISO / Ameren Illinois Transmission (AIT) zone
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Battery storage (BESS) P1 State-Default Permitting
No standalone county BESS ordinance confirmed.
Local BESS ordinances & bylaws
Tracked storage projects
County-level battery-storage status, safety requirements, and projects — each linked to a primary source.
Community opposition P1
No organized opposition on record for this county yet — no petition, group, or oppositional coverage tracked. Read that as nothing found, not as nothing there: absence of records is not evidence of local support.
Subscriber intel Subscribers
Researched for this county and available with a subscription:
- Project track record
- Developer intelligence
- Governing board
Energy-related meetings & dockets P1
Halo color matches the energy category tagged on each meeting.
- 2026-10-07 OtherData Center
Motion to approve Land Use bills as presented
- 2026-09-14 County BoardSolar
LaSalle County considered a motion to rescind a vote on a commercial solar energy facility.
- 2026-09-02 OtherData Center
Data Center Update to be presented as information
- 2026-07-09 County BoardSolar
❖ Pledge of Allegiance ❖ Roll Call for Per Diem and Mileage Motion to approve remote attendance pursuant to Resolution #23-53 Motion to Approve Roll Call for Per Diem and Mileage ❖ Approval or Dispense of prior meeting Minutes ◆ Motion to a
- 2026-07-09 OtherSolar
La Salle County Board approved an agreement with Allen Acres Solar, LLC for the use, maintenance, and repair of county highways and township roads.
- 2026-07-09 OtherSolar
Resolution 26-16, Road Use Agreement with Alley Acres Solar LLC 6.
- 2026-07-01 OtherSolar
Planning Commission reviewed various permits and applications, including a commercial solar project.
- 2026-06-17 Zoning BoardSolar
LaSalle County government discussed a commercial solar energy facility proposal.
- 2026-06-09 OtherSolar
The Full Board approved the Mack and Associates extension for the solar project.
- 2026-06-08 OtherData Center
LaSalle County established a twelve-month moratorium on data center development.
- 2026-06-08 County BoardData Center
Keith (Accessory Dwelling Unit over 900 SF) (2033 N 35th Rd, Ottawa) Dayton Twp (14-04-306-000) 26-12 SU Joseph Freitag (Home Occupation in Accessory Building) (1271 E 3rd Rd) Hope Twp (30-33-209-000) MOTION TO Place on File: Text Amendment
- 2026-06-03 OtherData Center
Data Center Moratorium
- 2026-06-03 OtherData Center
LaSalle County discussed a data center moratorium.
- 2026-05-20 Zoning BoardSolar
LaSalle County government discussed proposed amendments related to solar and wind energy facilities, among other topics.
- 2026-05-20 OtherSolar
LaSalle County Zoning Board of Appeals passed text amendments to the zoning ordinance regarding commercial solar energy facilities and other related topics.
- 2026-05-12 OtherSolar
Finance Committee discussed a list of future projects, including wind and solar energy storage.
- 2026-05-12 OtherSolar
LaSalle County discussed and approved various budget and finance-related items, including fee changes for wind, solar, and energy storage.
- 2026-05-06 OtherSolar
LaSalle County discussed permits for various projects, including a commercial solar project.
- 2026-04-20 OtherData Center
County Board discussed a data center text amendment draft
- 2026-04-01 OtherBESS
LaSalle County issued permits for three new single-family dwellings.
- 2026-03-04 OtherData Center
LaSalle County is proposing to amend its zoning ordinance to define a data center.
- 2026-02-05 OtherSolar
La Salle County Board considered a special use permit for a commercial solar energy facility.
- 2026-02-05 County BoardSolar
LaSalle County discussed a resolution to surrender tax sale certificates for a parcel of land.
- 2026-02-04 OtherSolar
LaSalle County Planning Commission approved special-use permits for several projects, including a solar project from South Ottawa Twp Solar LLC.
- 2026-01-21 Zoning BoardSolar
LaSalle County government discussed two 5MW commercial solar energy facility proposals.
- 2026-01-21 OtherSolar
LaSalle County approved a 5MW Commercial Solar Energy Facility with conditions.
- 2026-01-07 OtherSolar
Planning Commission reviewed permits for various projects, including a commercial solar project.
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State PSC dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
Local news P3
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