State of Illinois Legislators have been busy during the fall veto session, making changes to renewable energy statutes that will affect local counties.

At Monday night's DeWitt County Land Use Committee meeting, Committee Chair Buck Carter brought up the topic of HB 4116, an omnibus energy bill also known as the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act covering wind, solar, and battery storage. He feels that the State cleared some things up about the distance regulations when it comes to sites within a mile and a half of an incorporated area. 

Zoning Administrator Elizabeth Weikle pointed out that the County's current application fees will be changing. Not only will the way that fees are measured change from acreage to megawatts, but there is now a fee cap of $5,000 per megawatt with a total limit of $125,000. 

While the omnibus bill has passed the Senate and the House, it is still awaiting the Governor's signature. Weikle states that once that happens, they will have a 120-day window to get into compliance with the State statute. Board Chair Joe Witte said the Zoning Board of Appeals should hold off on any battery storage decisions until Pritzker signs the bill. 

The Committee also discussed at the brief meeting Weikle's ability to assess the quality of electrical work while she is inspecting residential solar arrays, an inspection that does not require a certified electrician. 

They ultimately decided that inspecting electrical work is not within the responsibilities of the Zoning Administrator, and that she is only to look at the zoning and permitting qualifications of the site.