The DeWitt County Board's hearing for the Prairie Flats solar project is next Tuesday, and the DeWitt County Board Chair is reminding the community of what the hearing will look like.

Board Chair Joe Witte indicates this will be the first time a special use permit application will go through the County Board. He notes it will look very similar to a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing.

According to Witte, there are going to be two segments to this meeting. There will be a section for public comment and then another during the hearing where the public can provide evidence about the project.

Because the County is mostly bound by the State of Illinois laws on wind and solar development, Witte indicates that if the application meets those standards, there is not a lot that can be done to deny the application.

Witte indicates this application is the first of many that the County is anticipating. He says tax credits expiring at the federal level are pushing developers to get their projects started so they do not lose access to those dollars.

The Prairie Flats siting hearing will be at 5 pm on Tuesday in the County Building.