Bill > SB1365

This bill amends the Illinois Counties Code to establish requirements for commercial wind and solar energy facility owners regarding water drainage and compensation. Specifically, the bill requires facility owners to file a farmland drainage plan with the county and impacted drainage districts, detailing how surface and subsurface drainage of farmland will be restored during and after construction or deconstruction. The most significant new provision is that facility owners must now compensate landowners if their wind or solar energy facility adversely affects water flow on the landowner's property, including impacts to drainage tiles. The bill defines key terms such as "commercial wind energy facility" (a wind energy conversion facility of 500 kilowatts or more) and "commercial solar energy facility" (as defined in the Property Tax Code). This provision aims to protect agricultural landowners from potential negative hydrological impacts caused by the installation of large-scale renewable energy infrastructure, ensuring that farmers are fairly compensated for any disruptions to their land's water management systems.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1365&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104