Sunday was the deadline for local County governments to get in line with state regulations for wind and solar development.

DeWitt County Board Chairman Dan Matthews indicates there is not a lot of area for local control with the new ordinances and anticipates because of that, there could be quick applications for special use permits coming in.

Setbacks are an area the County has dialed in on that could offer some flexibility on where the state has stepped in. But Matthews notes, one of the biggest changes in the applications for a special use permit is going to be the process of review of that application. 

Anticipating applications for solar and wind coming in with the change in state law now all but effective, Matthews explains the County wants to identify good companies to work with for those inevitable projects.

But finding the right company or companies for DeWitt County could leave others out of the circle of preference. Matthews indicates if they can find good partners early and allow them to develop, there likely won't be more development possible for other companies.

Matthews indicates only one review of a special use application is allowed now and so multiple hearings over multiple months will be a thing of the past. He believes the County Board should be the ones to hold those. 

We'll have more on that wrinkle in the legislation later this week on Regional Radio.