STEWARD – The biggest solar farm proposal to come to Lee County would cover about 760 acres in Steward and generate enough energy to power 20,000 homes.

Junction Solar LLC is asking the county for a special-use permit to develop a 100-megawatt solar farm in Alto and Reynolds townships on farmland owned by Larry and Julie Gittleson and Midwest Ag Investors LLC.

The project would be built between Herman and Reynolds roads, and between Highway 2 and Highway 8, according to the project proposal.

Junction Solar would be developed by Minnesota-based Geronimo Energy, which owns the Green River Wind Farm that spans more than 13,000 acres in Lee and Whiteside counties.

The proposal will go before the County Zoning Board on Thursday.

The Zoning Board’s recommendation will go to the County Board for the final vote, and if approved, project construction could start as early as spring 2020 and be finished in the fall.

The proposal states that the project would meet agricultural sustainability principles of environmental health, economic profitability and social and economic equity.

“Solar development supports all three [principles] by giving farmers the ability to continue farming, does not impose hazards to the natural environment, and provides economic support for the farmer and the rural community,” according to the proposal.

“Further, the clean renewable energy provided by Junction Solar serves not only the general welfare and economic viability of the county and its residents, but also creates green energy jobs and contributes significantly to property tax revenue in the county and all taxing districts.”

TO ATTEND

Junction Solar LLC request for a special-use permit to develop a 100-megawatt solar farm in Alto and Reynolds townships in Sreward, on farmland owned by Larry and Julie Gittleson and Midwest Ag Investors LLC, will go to the County Zoning Board at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Old Lee County Courthouse, 112 E. Second St.

Go to leecountyil.com for more information.