By Karen Haave
Surya Powered company officials have pulled their application for a solar farm on Center Road in Green Garden Township. Tej Patel, head of Surya Powered, backed away from the controversial project after a sometimes raucous Planning and Zoning Board meeting with GGT residents on September 5.
The proposed Center Road project already had been denied by the Will County Planning and Zoning Commission and got another thumbs-down at the township’s planning meeting September 5.
The final decision would have been with the Will County Board, but since the Special Use Permit application has been withdrawn, that’s a moot point.
GGT residents have said a large-scale solar farm on the Center Road location is inappropriate, because it is surrounded on three sides by homes and will cause a drop in property values there. At the same time, they contend the solar panels will contaminate prime farmland and lead to loss of farms, and that they have potential to create health issues.
Others note the panels are not quiet, with significant noise generated by tracking motors, gears, and battery storage systems. And others fear the panels can be used for “malicious manipulation of the weather.” 
But the company still has plans for solar sites on Kuse Road, as well as on Stunkel Road.
Green Garden Township Trustee Ralph Dietz said no public hearing dates have been scheduled yet for either parcel. He noted, however, that they likely would be set for Monday, November 6.
“Right now the Patel’s have two sites in Green Garden Township, the Kuse and 104th Avenue site and the additional one around 8601 West Stuenkel Road,” he said. “They also have a site in the Village of Frankfort at Center and Laraway behind Slim Gyms. Other than that I have no knowledge of his plans. I’m opposed to the Stuenkel one based on all the reasons for the Center Road one.”
Fighting the proliferation of solar farms, Dietz said, is difficult.
“It’s come to our attention that Will County’s hands are being tied related to wind and solar projects, compliments of Gov. Pritzker, who signed Public Act 102-1123. which cuts the power of counties to slow down, stop, or move solar projects away from open farm properties,” he said. “I’ve heard the counties must file lawsuits against the state based on the constitutionality of this law.”
Last week, State Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, introduced legislation to enable minimum 500-foot setbacks between homes and solar properties. 
“When I engage Will County residents, it’s clear people don’t want to be stuck with massive solar arrays right next to their home,” DeLuca said in a press release. “There are legitimate concerns regarding property values and environmental impact, which is why I’m putting forth a simple proposal that fairly prioritizes existing homeowners.”
DeLuca filed House Bill 4135 on September 18, which would update existing solar zoning law and authorize counties to increase the setback distance for solar energy projects from either 50 or 150 feet, depending on the property, to 500 feet universally. The measure is focused on large-scale commercial solar developments, not individual homeowner solar panel use.  
“While many of us are intrigued by the development of solar, it needs to be handled in a responsible way that provides flexibility for local governments,” DeLuca said. “I look forward to continuing to engage Will County residents and officials as we navigate this new development.”
Dietz, who chairs the GGT Planning and Zoning Commission, said he is aware of the DeLuca legislation, but not sure it would help.
“I haven’t read it,” he said, “but I’ve heard it mentions a universal setback of 500 feet for a buffer for commercial solar to a residential location. Based on that, I don’t think it does enough. I believe Judy Ogalla is working with a group of people to help resolve the problem.”
Meanwhile, details for the Kuse Road and 104th Avenue site were not available, but a development letter sent to area officials outlines the company’s Stunkel Road plans.
Founded in 2019 in Chicago and named for the ancient Indian god of the sun, Surya Powered is requesting a Special Use Permit to allow development of a 5MW (AC) ground-mounted distributed generation solar farm facility on approximately 45 acres located south of Stuenkel Road and east of 88th Avenue in Frankfort. 
The letter describes the existing site conditions as “flat, open land with minimal vegetation and no existing structures. The parcel of land will need to be prepped for development, which includes minimal excavation for underground wiring and electrical infrastructure. The construction of the facility will be approximately 15-20 employees, over three-to-six months. Once construction is complete, there will be no employees on-site outside the occasional three-to-five employees, two or three times a year, with one or two vehicles, for potential maintenance.
“The facility will attract no customers at any time, and traffic to the facility will be very minimal once completed,” the letter continues. 
“There will be no on-site parking provided as there will be no daily traffic. There will be no public restrooms or floor drains constructed. Any stormwater runoff from the site will be managed in a manner that complies with local regulations and protects the surrounding environment.” 
Project components are in compliance with Will County ordinance and state law, it notes, and features 13,363 solar modules mounted on a single axis racking system. At full tilt, the height of the solar array will be approximately 12 feet high. 
The solar panels are treated with anti-reflective coating to minimize glare, and the racking is placed on steel I beams. Concrete foundations are not anticipated. The system would be remotely monitored.
Electric cables would be installed underground for the entire project with the exception of a series of poles necessary to interconnect with the ComEd grid near Stuenkel Road. The perimeter of the facility would have eight feet tall fencing.
According to the letter, the location of the proposed structures would be in compliance with county setback requirements. Perennial vegetative ground cover would be maintained and seed mix determined prior to construction. Usage of all solar components are approved by UL.