Bill > HB1163

This bill amends the Counties Code to add new requirements for commercial wind and solar energy facility owners before they can receive siting approval from a county. Specifically, facility owners must now file two new plans with the Department of Agriculture prior to the required public hearing: a land reclamation plan and a recycling plan. The land reclamation plan must detail how the property will be restored to its original state after the facility is removed, while the recycling plan must outline how the materials used to construct the facility will be recycled. Additionally, the bill introduces a restriction that commercial solar energy facilities cannot be sited on property with a soil crop productivity index higher than 110, which is defined using the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's crop productivity ratings. These new provisions aim to ensure more comprehensive environmental and agricultural protection during the development and eventual decommissioning of renewable energy facilities in counties, with the goal of minimizing long-term impact on agricultural lands and promoting responsible resource management.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1163&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104