DIXON – Community members were able to get their questions answered Monday about the 1,300-acre solar farm proposed near Eldena.

Eldena Solar LLC, which is being developed by Minnesota-based Geronimo Energy LLC, is petitioning the county for a special-use permit that would allow for a 175-megawatt solar farm in South Dixon and Nachusa townships, and the Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals had its second hearing Tuesday.

Community members and those neighboring the project footprint will have a chance later in the process for public comment but were allowed to question company representatives testifying about project details.

Questions related to possible drainage issues, environmental impact, glare, solar array orientation, noise, landowner leases, soil quality, setback variances and construction.

The solar farm would be near the corner of Eldena and Nachusa roads and generate enough energy to power around 30,000 homes a year.

Tom Richards, who lives east of the project, asked Geronimo's market lead developer Ben Adamich why they chose to build on good farm land rather than other areas.

They need to be close to transmission lines to get onto the power grid, Adamich said.

There was also the question of whether Geronimo was developing the project to sell to another company.

Adamich said it's their intention to own and operate what they develop, and they are no stranger to the area.

"We'd like to continue our footprint in Lee County," he said.

Last year, Geronimo received a special-use permit under Junction Solar LLC to build a 100-megawatt solar farm on about 760 acres of farmland in Alto and Reynolds townships.

The company also owns the 194-megawatt Green River Wind Farm in Lee and Whiteside counties north of Walnut, which became operational late last year with 74 turbines across 13,000 acres.

The panels will have anti-reflective coatings so there shouldn't be any glare, and the low-grow pollinator mix they would plant in the area would likely improve drainage and rest the soil, he said. The company is required to do several studies showing the impact of the project, including a hydrology study looking at drainage.

"Overall, we're not going to inhibit drainage from adjacent properties," Adamich said.

Franklin Grove resident Lisa Hall asked about security.

The project would be surrounded by a 7-foot-tall fence that would include barbed wire on top, and the site would be monitored 24/7 either remotely or by staff.

Landowner leases are for around 35 to 40 years, and solar array efficiency will decrease only about 12 percent across 25 years, he said.

The project is estimated to generate around $15.5 million in property taxes across 20 years, with the bulk going to the Amboy School District, about $730,000 a year. Additional county revenue would be around $113,000 a year.

Meetings are streamed live on the Lee County Illinois YouTube channel, as well as via Zoom.

Go to leecountyil.com for more information.