County Fights
Contested solar projects across Illinois since the 2023 siting law, with every entry linked to local reporting or public records.
Will County’s Pride of the Prairie
Source: Shaw Local
DeKalb County’s Burr Oak Solar
Source: Shaw Local
McHenry vote approving five projects under court order
Source: Shaw Local
La Salle members who abstained or voted “present”
Source: Shaw Local
County by County
Will County
Pride of the Prairie (6,100 acres) approved 12–8, now in court. Six projects approved under court order. A 9 MW project next to the Meadow Creek Airpark rejected 15–6.
Shaw Local · Tribune · Shaw Local · Shaw Local · Tribune
Grundy County
Two projects denied in 2024, then ordered approved by the courts. The county adopted a tougher ordinance in June 2026.
Opinion · Shaw Local
McHenry County
Five denied projects approved 11–7 under court order on July 21, 2026.
Shaw Local · Shaw Local
DeKalb County
Burr Oak Solar: 300 MW on 1,984 acres. Approved in Sept. 2025 over neighbors’ flooding and farmland concerns.
Shaw Local · WSPY
La Salle County
A Utica Twp. project passed 8–1 with 17 abstaining or voting “present”. An Oglesby array was rejected 20–7, then approved 21–4.
Shaw Local · WLPO · WLPO
Winnebago County
Two denials upheld by the Fourth District; now before the Illinois Supreme Court.
Opinion · ArentFox Schiff
Madison County
A Roxana-area denial was reversed after bigger setbacks. Moro and two Wolf Road projects were denied in Nov. 2025. A 2026 amendment exempts one Madison County area, bounded by Drexelius, Fosterburg and Wolf Roads, from the 2023 siting rules (§5-12020(u)(4); P.A. 104-458).
Telegraph · Telegraph
Ogle County
Two 5 MW community solar farms denied unanimously in Aug. 2025 over farmland, drainage and property values.
Superhits 93.5 · Ordinance
Adams County
A 3.4 MW Pivot Energy project denied 12–8 in July 2025, even though it met state requirements.
Muddy River News
Whiteside County
Denied twice, then sued; the county settled and granted the permit in Feb. 2025.
Shaw Local
Sangamon County
The zoning committee explored buffer rezoning to regain local control.
Illinois Times
Disclosure
The Oglesby (La Salle) site is land around Starved Rock Media’s studios, and Starved Rock Media owns WLPO, the station that reported it. Every project here has people on both sides; we report what was said and done and link the source. Corrections: info@illinoisfarmlandpreservation.com.
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