Solar permitting — LaSalle County, Illinois
425 indexed meetings (27 energy-related), 3 news items.
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
State floor applies: ≥50 ft from property line; ≥150 ft from non-participating residence; ≥50 ft from road ROW. No county-specific setbacks above this floor.
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. Absence of opposition is a positive siting signal.
Subscriber intel Subscribers
Researched for this county and available with a subscription:
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- 🔒Community & board sentiment
- 🔒Governing board
- 🔒Sentiment rollup
Energy-related meetings & dockets P1
Halo color = sentiment of the relevant agenda excerpt: green positive, yellow neutral, red negative.
- 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
Resolution 26-16, Road Use Agreement with Alley Acres Solar LLC 6.
- 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.
- 2026-06-17 Zoning BoardSolar
LaSalle County government discussed a commercial solar energy facility proposal.
- 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
- 2026-06-08 OtherData Center
LaSalle County established a twelve-month moratorium on data center development.
- 2026-06-03 OtherData Center
LaSalle County discussed a data center moratorium.
- 2026-05-20 OtherSolar
LaSalle County approved the proposed solar project with minor changes
- 2026-05-20 Zoning BoardSolar
LaSalle County Planning Commission approved a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
- 2026-05-12 OtherSolar
Approved the solar project to be built in LaSalle County
- 2026-05-12 OtherSolar
The Finance Committee approved a proposal to invest in a 150 MW solar farm in LaSalle County.
- 2026-05-06 OtherSolar
Approved the solar project with a 150 MW capacity to generate clean energy for the county
- 2026-04-20 OtherData Center
County Board approved the data center policy
- 2026-04-01 OtherBESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a 150 MW solar farm project in LaSalle County.
- 2026-03-04 OtherData Center
The Planning Commission approved a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm.
- 2026-02-05 County BoardSolar
LaSalle County approved the 5MW Commercial Solar Energy Facility (Land Use - Brian Gift)
- 2026-02-05 OtherSolar
La Salle County Board approved a special-use permit for a 150 MW solar farm on a 22-23-320-000 parcel in the A1 Agriculture District
- 2026-02-04 OtherSolar
LaSalle County Planning Commission approved a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm.
- 2026-01-21 OtherSolar
LaSalle County approved a 5MW commercial solar energy facility with conditions.
- 2026-01-21 Zoning BoardSolar
LaSalle County Commission approved a 5MW Commercial Solar Energy Facility in South Ottawa Township
- 2026-01-07 OtherSolar
Approved the solar project with a total of 150 MW capacity and a proposed location on 1477 E 21st Rd, Streator…
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State PSC dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
Local news P3
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