Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

Illinois Senate Bill SB1127 Compare Versions

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1-Public Act 103-0081
21 SB1127 EnrolledLRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b SB1127 Enrolled LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
32 SB1127 Enrolled LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
4-AN ACT concerning regulation.
5-Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
6-represented in the General Assembly:
7-Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by changing
8-Section 5-12020 as follows:
9-(55 ILCS 5/5-12020)
10-Sec. 5-12020. Commercial wind energy facilities and
11-commercial solar energy facilities.
12-(a) As used in this Section:
13-"Commercial solar energy facility" means a "commercial
14-solar energy system" as defined in Section 10-720 of the
15-Property Tax Code. "Commercial solar energy facility" does not
16-mean a utility-scale solar energy facility being constructed
17-at a site that was eligible to participate in a procurement
18-event conducted by the Illinois Power Agency pursuant to
19-subsection (c-5) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency
20-Act.
21-"Commercial wind energy facility" means a wind energy
22-conversion facility of equal or greater than 500 kilowatts in
23-total nameplate generating capacity. "Commercial wind energy
24-facility" includes a wind energy conversion facility seeking
25-an extension of a permit to construct granted by a county or
26-municipality before the effective date of this amendatory Act
3+1 AN ACT concerning regulation.
4+2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
5+3 represented in the General Assembly:
6+4 Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by changing
7+5 Section 5-12020 as follows:
8+6 (55 ILCS 5/5-12020)
9+7 Sec. 5-12020. Commercial wind energy facilities and
10+8 commercial solar energy facilities.
11+9 (a) As used in this Section:
12+10 "Commercial solar energy facility" means a "commercial
13+11 solar energy system" as defined in Section 10-720 of the
14+12 Property Tax Code. "Commercial solar energy facility" does not
15+13 mean a utility-scale solar energy facility being constructed
16+14 at a site that was eligible to participate in a procurement
17+15 event conducted by the Illinois Power Agency pursuant to
18+16 subsection (c-5) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency
19+17 Act.
20+18 "Commercial wind energy facility" means a wind energy
21+19 conversion facility of equal or greater than 500 kilowatts in
22+20 total nameplate generating capacity. "Commercial wind energy
23+21 facility" includes a wind energy conversion facility seeking
24+22 an extension of a permit to construct granted by a county or
25+23 municipality before the effective date of this amendatory Act
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33-of the 102nd General Assembly.
34-"Facility owner" means (i) a person with a direct
35-ownership interest in a commercial wind energy facility or a
36-commercial solar energy facility, or both, regardless of
37-whether the person is involved in acquiring the necessary
38-rights, permits, and approvals or otherwise planning for the
39-construction and operation of the facility, and (ii) at the
40-time the facility is being developed, a person who is acting as
41-a developer of the facility by acquiring the necessary rights,
42-permits, and approvals or by planning for the construction and
43-operation of the facility, regardless of whether the person
44-will own or operate the facility.
45-"Nonparticipating property" means real property that is
46-not a participating property.
47-"Nonparticipating residence" means a residence that is
48-located on nonparticipating property and that is existing and
49-occupied on the date that an application for a permit to
50-develop the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial
51-solar energy facility is filed with the county.
52-"Occupied community building" means any one or more of the
53-following buildings that is existing and occupied on the date
54-that the application for a permit to develop the commercial
55-wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility
56-is filed with the county: a school, place of worship, day care
57-facility, public library, or community center.
58-"Participating property" means real property that is the
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34+1 of the 102nd General Assembly.
35+2 "Facility owner" means (i) a person with a direct
36+3 ownership interest in a commercial wind energy facility or a
37+4 commercial solar energy facility, or both, regardless of
38+5 whether the person is involved in acquiring the necessary
39+6 rights, permits, and approvals or otherwise planning for the
40+7 construction and operation of the facility, and (ii) at the
41+8 time the facility is being developed, a person who is acting as
42+9 a developer of the facility by acquiring the necessary rights,
43+10 permits, and approvals or by planning for the construction and
44+11 operation of the facility, regardless of whether the person
45+12 will own or operate the facility.
46+13 "Nonparticipating property" means real property that is
47+14 not a participating property.
48+15 "Nonparticipating residence" means a residence that is
49+16 located on nonparticipating property and that is existing and
50+17 occupied on the date that an application for a permit to
51+18 develop the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial
52+19 solar energy facility is filed with the county.
53+20 "Occupied community building" means any one or more of the
54+21 following buildings that is existing and occupied on the date
55+22 that the application for a permit to develop the commercial
56+23 wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility
57+24 is filed with the county: a school, place of worship, day care
58+25 facility, public library, or community center.
59+26 "Participating property" means real property that is the
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61-subject of a written agreement between a facility owner and
62-the owner of the real property that provides the facility
63-owner an easement, option, lease, or license to use the real
64-property for the purpose of constructing a commercial wind
65-energy facility, a commercial solar energy facility, or
66-supporting facilities. "Participating property" also includes
67-real property that is owned by a facility owner for the purpose
68-of constructing a commercial wind energy facility, a
69-commercial solar energy facility, or supporting facilities.
70-"Participating residence" means a residence that is
71-located on participating property and that is existing and
72-occupied on the date that an application for a permit to
73-develop the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial
74-solar energy facility is filed with the county.
75-"Protected lands" means real property that is:
76-(1) subject to a permanent conservation right
77-consistent with the Real Property Conservation Rights Act;
78-or
79-(2) registered or designated as a nature preserve,
80-buffer, or land and water reserve under the Illinois
81-Natural Areas Preservation Act.
82-"Supporting facilities" means the transmission lines,
83-substations, access roads, meteorological towers, storage
84-containers, and equipment associated with the generation and
85-storage of electricity by the commercial wind energy facility
86-or commercial solar energy facility.
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89-"Wind tower" includes the wind turbine tower, nacelle, and
90-blades.
91-(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or whether
92-the county has formed a zoning commission and adopted formal
93-zoning under Section 5-12007, a county may establish standards
94-for commercial wind energy facilities, commercial solar energy
95-facilities, or both. The standards may include all of the
96-requirements specified in this Section but may not include
97-requirements for commercial wind energy facilities or
98-commercial solar energy facilities that are more restrictive
99-than specified in this Section. A county may also regulate the
100-siting of commercial wind energy facilities with standards
101-that are not more restrictive than the requirements specified
102-in this Section in unincorporated areas of the county that are
103-outside the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality and that are
104-outside the 1.5-mile radius surrounding the zoning
105-jurisdiction of a municipality.
106-(c) If a county has elected to establish standards under
107-subsection (b), before the county grants siting approval or a
108-special use permit for a commercial wind energy facility or a
109-commercial solar energy facility, or modification of an
110-approved siting or special use permit, the county board of the
111-county in which the facility is to be sited or the zoning board
112-of appeals for the county shall hold at least one public
113-hearing. The public hearing shall be conducted in accordance
114-with the Open Meetings Act and shall be held not more than 45
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117-days after the filing of the application for the facility. The
118-county shall allow interested parties to a special use permit
119-an opportunity to present evidence and to cross-examine
120-witnesses at the hearing, but the county may impose reasonable
121-restrictions on the public hearing, including reasonable time
122-limitations on the presentation of evidence and the
123-cross-examination of witnesses. The county shall also allow
124-public comment at the public hearing in accordance with the
125-Open Meetings Act. The county shall make its siting and
126-permitting decisions not more than 30 days after the
127-conclusion of the public hearing. Notice of the hearing shall
128-be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the
129-county. A facility owner must enter into an agricultural
130-impact mitigation agreement with the Department of Agriculture
131-prior to the date of the required public hearing. A commercial
132-wind energy facility owner seeking an extension of a permit
133-granted by a county prior to July 24, 2015 (the effective date
134-of Public Act 99-132) must enter into an agricultural impact
135-mitigation agreement with the Department of Agriculture prior
136-to a decision by the county to grant the permit extension.
137-Counties may allow test wind towers or test solar energy
138-systems to be sited without formal approval by the county
139-board.
140-(d) A county with an existing zoning ordinance in conflict
141-with this Section shall amend that zoning ordinance to be in
142-compliance with this Section within 120 days after the
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70+1 subject of a written agreement between a facility owner and
71+2 the owner of the real property that provides the facility
72+3 owner an easement, option, lease, or license to use the real
73+4 property for the purpose of constructing a commercial wind
74+5 energy facility, a commercial solar energy facility, or
75+6 supporting facilities. "Participating property" also includes
76+7 real property that is owned by a facility owner for the purpose
77+8 of constructing a commercial wind energy facility, a
78+9 commercial solar energy facility, or supporting facilities.
79+10 "Participating residence" means a residence that is
80+11 located on participating property and that is existing and
81+12 occupied on the date that an application for a permit to
82+13 develop the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial
83+14 solar energy facility is filed with the county.
84+15 "Protected lands" means real property that is:
85+16 (1) subject to a permanent conservation right
86+17 consistent with the Real Property Conservation Rights Act;
87+18 or
88+19 (2) registered or designated as a nature preserve,
89+20 buffer, or land and water reserve under the Illinois
90+21 Natural Areas Preservation Act.
91+22 "Supporting facilities" means the transmission lines,
92+23 substations, access roads, meteorological towers, storage
93+24 containers, and equipment associated with the generation and
94+25 storage of electricity by the commercial wind energy facility
95+26 or commercial solar energy facility.
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145-effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
146-Assembly.
147-(e) A county may require:
148-(1) a wind tower of a commercial wind energy facility
149-to be sited as follows, with setback distances measured
150-from the center of the base of the wind tower:
151-Setback Description Setback Distance
152-Occupied Community 2.1 times the maximum blade tip
153-Buildings height of the wind tower to the
154-nearest point on the outside
155-wall of the structure
156-Participating Residences 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
157-height of the wind tower to the
158-nearest point on the outside
159-wall of the structure
160-Nonparticipating Residences 2.1 times the maximum blade tip
161-height of the wind tower to the
162-nearest point on the outside
163-wall of the structure
164-Boundary Lines of None
165-Participating Property
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168-Boundary Lines of 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
169-Nonparticipating Property height of the wind tower to the
170-nearest point on the property
171-line of the nonparticipating
172-property
173-Public Road Rights-of-Way 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
174-height of the wind tower
175-to the center point of the
176-public road right-of-way
177-Overhead Communication and 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
178-Electric Transmission height of the wind tower to the
179-and Distribution Facilities nearest edge of the property
180-(Not Including Overhead line, easement, or right of way
181-Utility Service Lines to containing the overhead line
182-Individual Houses or
183-Outbuildings)
184-Overhead Utility Service None
185-Lines to Individual
186-Houses or Outbuildings
187-Fish and Wildlife Areas 2.1 times the maximum blade
188-and Illinois Nature tip height of the wind tower
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191-Preserve Commission to the nearest point on the
192-Protected Lands property line of the fish and
193-wildlife area or protected
194-land
195-This Section does not exempt or excuse compliance with
196-electric facility clearances approved or required by the
197-National Electrical Code, The National Electrical Safety
198-Code, Illinois Commerce Commission, Federal Energy
199-Regulatory Commission, and their designees or successors.
200-(2) a wind tower of a commercial wind energy facility
201-to be sited so that industry standard computer modeling
202-indicates that any occupied community building or
203-nonparticipating residence will not experience more than
204-30 hours per year of shadow flicker under planned
205-operating conditions;
206-(3) a commercial solar energy facility to be sited as
207-follows, with setback distances measured from the nearest
208-edge of any component of the facility:
209-Setback Description Setback Distance
210-Occupied Community 150 feet from the nearest
211-Buildings and Dwellings on point on the outside wall
212-Nonparticipating Properties of the structure
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106+1 "Wind tower" includes the wind turbine tower, nacelle, and
107+2 blades.
108+3 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or whether
109+4 the county has formed a zoning commission and adopted formal
110+5 zoning under Section 5-12007, a county may establish standards
111+6 for commercial wind energy facilities, commercial solar energy
112+7 facilities, or both. The standards may include all of the
113+8 requirements specified in this Section but may not include
114+9 requirements for commercial wind energy facilities or
115+10 commercial solar energy facilities that are more restrictive
116+11 than specified in this Section. A county may also regulate the
117+12 siting of commercial wind energy facilities with standards
118+13 that are not more restrictive than the requirements specified
119+14 in this Section in unincorporated areas of the county that are
120+15 outside the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality and that are
121+16 outside the 1.5-mile radius surrounding the zoning
122+17 jurisdiction of a municipality.
123+18 (c) If a county has elected to establish standards under
124+19 subsection (b), before the county grants siting approval or a
125+20 special use permit for a commercial wind energy facility or a
126+21 commercial solar energy facility, or modification of an
127+22 approved siting or special use permit, the county board of the
128+23 county in which the facility is to be sited or the zoning board
129+24 of appeals for the county shall hold at least one public
130+25 hearing. The public hearing shall be conducted in accordance
131+26 with the Open Meetings Act and shall be held not more than 45
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215-Boundary Lines of None
216-Participating Property
217-Public Road Rights-of-Way 50 feet from the nearest
218-edge
219-Boundary Lines of 50 feet to the nearest
220-Nonparticipating Property point on the property
221-line of the nonparticipating
222-property
223-(4) a commercial solar energy facility to be sited so
224-that the facility's perimeter is enclosed by fencing
225-having a height of at least 6 feet and no more than 25
226-feet; and
227-(5) a commercial solar energy facility to be sited so
228-that no component of a solar panel has a height of more
229-than 20 feet above ground when the solar energy facility's
230-arrays are at full tilt.
231-The requirements set forth in this subsection (e) may be
232-waived subject to the written consent of the owner of each
233-affected nonparticipating property.
234-(f) A county may not set a sound limitation for wind towers
235-in commercial wind energy facilities or any components in
236-commercial solar energy facility that is more restrictive than
237-the sound limitations established by the Illinois Pollution
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240-Control Board under 35 Ill. Adm. Code Parts 900, 901, and 910.
241-(g) A county may not place any restriction on the
242-installation or use of a commercial wind energy facility or a
243-commercial solar energy facility unless it adopts an ordinance
244-that complies with this Section. A county may not establish
245-siting standards for supporting facilities that preclude
246-development of commercial wind energy facilities or commercial
247-solar energy facilities.
248-A request for siting approval or a special use permit for a
249-commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy
250-facility, or modification of an approved siting or special use
251-permit, shall be approved if the request is in compliance with
252-the standards and conditions imposed in this Act, the zoning
253-ordinance adopted consistent with this Code, and the
254-conditions imposed under State and federal statutes and
255-regulations.
256-(h) A county may not adopt zoning regulations that
257-disallow, permanently or temporarily, commercial wind energy
258-facilities or commercial solar energy facilities from being
259-developed or operated in any district zoned to allow
260-agricultural or industrial uses.
261-(i) A county may not require permit application fees for a
262-commercial wind energy facility or commercial solar energy
263-facility that are unreasonable. All application fees imposed
264-by the county shall be consistent with fees for projects in the
265-county with similar capital value and cost.
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268-(j) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a county
269-shall not require standards for construction, decommissioning,
270-or deconstruction of a commercial wind energy facility or
271-commercial solar energy facility or related financial
272-assurances that are more restrictive than those included in
273-the Department of Agriculture's standard wind farm
274-agricultural impact mitigation agreement, template 81818, or
275-standard solar agricultural impact mitigation agreement,
276-version 8.19.19, as applicable and in effect on December 31,
277-2022. The amount of any decommissioning payment shall be
278-limited to the cost identified in the decommissioning or
279-deconstruction plan, as required by those agricultural impact
280-mitigation agreements, minus the salvage value of the project.
281-(k) A county may not condition approval of a commercial
282-wind energy facility or commercial solar energy facility on a
283-property value guarantee and may not require a facility owner
284-to pay into a neighboring property devaluation escrow account.
285-(l) A county may require certain vegetative screening
286-surrounding a commercial wind energy facility or commercial
287-solar energy facility but may not require earthen berms or
288-similar structures.
289-(m) A county may set blade tip height limitations for wind
290-towers in commercial wind energy facilities but may not set a
291-blade tip height limitation that is more restrictive than the
292-height allowed under a Determination of No Hazard to Air
293-Navigation by the Federal Aviation Administration under 14 CFR
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142+1 days after the filing of the application for the facility. The
143+2 county shall allow interested parties to a special use permit
144+3 an opportunity to present evidence and to cross-examine
145+4 witnesses at the hearing, but the county may impose reasonable
146+5 restrictions on the public hearing, including reasonable time
147+6 limitations on the presentation of evidence and the
148+7 cross-examination of witnesses. The county shall also allow
149+8 public comment at the public hearing in accordance with the
150+9 Open Meetings Act. The county shall make its siting and
151+10 permitting decisions not more than 30 days after the
152+11 conclusion of the public hearing. Notice of the hearing shall
153+12 be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the
154+13 county. A facility owner must enter into an agricultural
155+14 impact mitigation agreement with the Department of Agriculture
156+15 prior to the date of the required public hearing. A commercial
157+16 wind energy facility owner seeking an extension of a permit
158+17 granted by a county prior to July 24, 2015 (the effective date
159+18 of Public Act 99-132) must enter into an agricultural impact
160+19 mitigation agreement with the Department of Agriculture prior
161+20 to a decision by the county to grant the permit extension.
162+21 Counties may allow test wind towers or test solar energy
163+22 systems to be sited without formal approval by the county
164+23 board.
165+24 (d) A county with an existing zoning ordinance in conflict
166+25 with this Section shall amend that zoning ordinance to be in
167+26 compliance with this Section within 120 days after the
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296-Part 77.
297-(n) A county may require that a commercial wind energy
298-facility owner or commercial solar energy facility owner
299-provide:
300-(1) the results and recommendations from consultation
301-with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that are
302-obtained through the Ecological Compliance Assessment Tool
303-(EcoCAT) or a comparable successor tool; and
304-(2) the results of the United States Fish and Wildlife
305-Service's Information for Planning and Consulting
306-environmental review or a comparable successor tool that
307-is consistent with (i) the "U.S. Fish and Wildlife
308-Service's Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines" and (ii) any
309-applicable United States Fish and Wildlife Service solar
310-wildlife guidelines that have been subject to public
311-review.
312-(o) A county may require a commercial wind energy facility
313-or commercial solar energy facility to adhere to the
314-recommendations provided by the Illinois Department of Natural
315-Resources in an EcoCAT natural resource review report under 17
316-Ill. Admin. Code Part 1075.
317-(p) A county may require a facility owner to:
318-(1) demonstrate avoidance of protected lands as
319-identified by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
320-and the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission; or
321-(2) consider the recommendations of the Illinois
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324-Department of Natural Resources for setbacks from
325-protected lands, including areas identified by the
326-Illinois Nature Preserve Commission.
327-(q) A county may require that a facility owner provide
328-evidence of consultation with the Illinois State Historic
329-Preservation Office to assess potential impacts on
330-State-registered historic sites under the Illinois State
331-Agency Historic Resources Preservation Act.
332-(r) To maximize community benefits, including, but not
333-limited to, reduced stormwater runoff, flooding, and erosion
334-at the ground mounted solar energy system, improved soil
335-health, and increased foraging habitat for game birds,
336-songbirds, and pollinators, a county may (1) require a
337-commercial solar energy facility owner to plant, establish,
338-and maintain for the life of the facility vegetative ground
339-cover, consistent with the goals of the Pollinator-Friendly
340-Solar Site Act and (2) require the submittal of a vegetation
341-management plan in the application to construct and operate a
342-commercial solar energy facility in the county.
343-No later than 90 days after the effective date of this
344-amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the Illinois
345-Department of Natural Resources shall develop guidelines for
346-vegetation management plans that may be required under this
347-subsection for commercial solar energy facilities. The
348-guidelines must include guidance for short-term and long-term
349-property management practices that provide and maintain native
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352-and non-invasive naturalized perennial vegetation to protect
353-the health and well-being of pollinators.
354-(s) If a facility owner enters into a road use agreement
355-with the Illinois Department of Transportation, a road
356-district, or other unit of local government relating to a
357-commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy
358-facility, the road use agreement shall require the facility
359-owner to be responsible for (i) the reasonable cost of
360-improving roads used by the facility owner to construct the
361-commercial wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy
362-facility and (ii) the reasonable cost of repairing roads used
363-by the facility owner during construction of the commercial
364-wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility
365-so that those roads are in a condition that is safe for the
366-driving public after the completion of the facility's
367-construction. Roadways improved in preparation for and during
368-the construction of the commercial wind energy facility or
369-commercial solar energy facility shall be repaired and
370-restored to the improved condition at the reasonable cost of
371-the developer if the roadways have degraded or were damaged as
372-a result of construction-related activities.
373-The road use agreement shall not require the facility
374-owner to pay costs, fees, or charges for road work that is not
375-specifically and uniquely attributable to the construction of
376-the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial solar
377-energy facility. Road-related fees, permit fees, or other
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178+1 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
179+2 Assembly.
180+3 (e) A county may require:
181+4 (1) a wind tower of a commercial wind energy facility
182+5 to be sited as follows, with setback distances measured
183+6 from the center of the base of the wind tower:
184+7 Setback Description Setback Distance
185+8 Occupied Community 2.1 times the maximum blade tip
186+9 Buildings height of the wind tower to the
187+10 nearest point on the outside
188+11 wall of the structure
189+12 Participating Residences 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
190+13 height of the wind tower to the
191+14 nearest point on the outside
192+15 wall of the structure
193+16 Nonparticipating Residences 2.1 times the maximum blade tip
194+17 height of the wind tower to the
195+18 nearest point on the outside
196+19 wall of the structure
197+20 Boundary Lines of None
198+21 Participating Property
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380-charges imposed by the Illinois Department of Transportation,
381-a road district, or other unit of local government under a road
382-use agreement with the facility owner shall be reasonably
383-related to the cost of administration of the road use
384-agreement.
385-(t) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a facility
386-owner with siting approval from a county to construct a
387-commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy
388-facility is authorized to cross or impact a drainage system,
389-including, but not limited to, drainage tiles, open drainage
390-districts, culverts, and water gathering vaults, owned or
391-under the control of a drainage district under the Illinois
392-Drainage Code without obtaining prior agreement or approval
393-from the drainage district, except that the facility owner
394-shall repair or pay for the repair of all damage to the
395-drainage system caused by the construction of the commercial
396-wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility
397-within a reasonable time after construction of the commercial
398-wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility
399-is complete.
400-(u) The amendments to this Section adopted in Public Act
401-102-1123 this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly do
402-not apply to: (1) an application for siting approval or for a
403-special use permit for a commercial wind energy facility or
404-commercial solar energy facility if the application was
405-submitted to a unit of local government before the effective
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408-date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly; or
409-(2) a commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar
410-energy facility if the facility owner has submitted an
411-agricultural impact mitigation agreement to the Department of
412-Agriculture before the effective date of this amendatory Act
413-of the 102nd General Assembly; or (3) a commercial wind energy
414-or commercial solar energy development on property that is
415-located within an enterprise zone certified under the Illinois
416-Enterprise Zone Act, that was classified as industrial by the
417-appropriate zoning authority on or before January 27, 2023,
418-and that is located within 4 miles of the intersection of
419-Interstate 88 and Interstate 39.
420-(Source: P.A. 101-4, eff. 4-19-19; 102-1123, eff. 1-27-23.)
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207+SB1127 Enrolled- 7 -LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b SB1127 Enrolled - 7 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
208+ SB1127 Enrolled - 7 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
209+1 Boundary Lines of 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
210+2 Nonparticipating Property height of the wind tower to the
211+3 nearest point on the property
212+4 line of the nonparticipating
213+5 property
214+6 Public Road Rights-of-Way 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
215+7 height of the wind tower
216+8 to the center point of the
217+9 public road right-of-way
218+10 Overhead Communication and 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
219+11 Electric Transmission height of the wind tower to the
220+12 and Distribution Facilities nearest edge of the property
221+13 (Not Including Overhead line, easement, or right of way
222+14 Utility Service Lines to containing the overhead line
223+15 Individual Houses or
224+16 Outbuildings)
225+17 Overhead Utility Service None
226+18 Lines to Individual
227+19 Houses or Outbuildings
228+20 Fish and Wildlife Areas 2.1 times the maximum blade
229+21 and Illinois Nature tip height of the wind tower
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235+ SB1127 Enrolled - 7 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
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238+SB1127 Enrolled- 8 -LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b SB1127 Enrolled - 8 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
239+ SB1127 Enrolled - 8 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
240+1 Preserve Commission to the nearest point on the
241+2 Protected Lands property line of the fish and
242+3 wildlife area or protected
243+4 land
244+5 This Section does not exempt or excuse compliance with
245+6 electric facility clearances approved or required by the
246+7 National Electrical Code, The National Electrical Safety
247+8 Code, Illinois Commerce Commission, Federal Energy
248+9 Regulatory Commission, and their designees or successors.
249+10 (2) a wind tower of a commercial wind energy facility
250+11 to be sited so that industry standard computer modeling
251+12 indicates that any occupied community building or
252+13 nonparticipating residence will not experience more than
253+14 30 hours per year of shadow flicker under planned
254+15 operating conditions;
255+16 (3) a commercial solar energy facility to be sited as
256+17 follows, with setback distances measured from the nearest
257+18 edge of any component of the facility:
258+19 Setback Description Setback Distance
259+20 Occupied Community 150 feet from the nearest
260+21 Buildings and Dwellings on point on the outside wall
261+22 Nonparticipating Properties of the structure
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267+ SB1127 Enrolled - 8 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
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270+SB1127 Enrolled- 9 -LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b SB1127 Enrolled - 9 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
271+ SB1127 Enrolled - 9 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
272+1 Boundary Lines of None
273+2 Participating Property
274+3 Public Road Rights-of-Way 50 feet from the nearest
275+4 edge
276+5 Boundary Lines of 50 feet to the nearest
277+6 Nonparticipating Property point on the property
278+7 line of the nonparticipating
279+8 property
280+9 (4) a commercial solar energy facility to be sited so
281+10 that the facility's perimeter is enclosed by fencing
282+11 having a height of at least 6 feet and no more than 25
283+12 feet; and
284+13 (5) a commercial solar energy facility to be sited so
285+14 that no component of a solar panel has a height of more
286+15 than 20 feet above ground when the solar energy facility's
287+16 arrays are at full tilt.
288+17 The requirements set forth in this subsection (e) may be
289+18 waived subject to the written consent of the owner of each
290+19 affected nonparticipating property.
291+20 (f) A county may not set a sound limitation for wind towers
292+21 in commercial wind energy facilities or any components in
293+22 commercial solar energy facility that is more restrictive than
294+23 the sound limitations established by the Illinois Pollution
295+
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300+ SB1127 Enrolled - 9 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
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303+SB1127 Enrolled- 10 -LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b SB1127 Enrolled - 10 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
304+ SB1127 Enrolled - 10 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
305+1 Control Board under 35 Ill. Adm. Code Parts 900, 901, and 910.
306+2 (g) A county may not place any restriction on the
307+3 installation or use of a commercial wind energy facility or a
308+4 commercial solar energy facility unless it adopts an ordinance
309+5 that complies with this Section. A county may not establish
310+6 siting standards for supporting facilities that preclude
311+7 development of commercial wind energy facilities or commercial
312+8 solar energy facilities.
313+9 A request for siting approval or a special use permit for a
314+10 commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy
315+11 facility, or modification of an approved siting or special use
316+12 permit, shall be approved if the request is in compliance with
317+13 the standards and conditions imposed in this Act, the zoning
318+14 ordinance adopted consistent with this Code, and the
319+15 conditions imposed under State and federal statutes and
320+16 regulations.
321+17 (h) A county may not adopt zoning regulations that
322+18 disallow, permanently or temporarily, commercial wind energy
323+19 facilities or commercial solar energy facilities from being
324+20 developed or operated in any district zoned to allow
325+21 agricultural or industrial uses.
326+22 (i) A county may not require permit application fees for a
327+23 commercial wind energy facility or commercial solar energy
328+24 facility that are unreasonable. All application fees imposed
329+25 by the county shall be consistent with fees for projects in the
330+26 county with similar capital value and cost.
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336+ SB1127 Enrolled - 10 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
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339+SB1127 Enrolled- 11 -LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b SB1127 Enrolled - 11 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
340+ SB1127 Enrolled - 11 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
341+1 (j) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a county
342+2 shall not require standards for construction, decommissioning,
343+3 or deconstruction of a commercial wind energy facility or
344+4 commercial solar energy facility or related financial
345+5 assurances that are more restrictive than those included in
346+6 the Department of Agriculture's standard wind farm
347+7 agricultural impact mitigation agreement, template 81818, or
348+8 standard solar agricultural impact mitigation agreement,
349+9 version 8.19.19, as applicable and in effect on December 31,
350+10 2022. The amount of any decommissioning payment shall be
351+11 limited to the cost identified in the decommissioning or
352+12 deconstruction plan, as required by those agricultural impact
353+13 mitigation agreements, minus the salvage value of the project.
354+14 (k) A county may not condition approval of a commercial
355+15 wind energy facility or commercial solar energy facility on a
356+16 property value guarantee and may not require a facility owner
357+17 to pay into a neighboring property devaluation escrow account.
358+18 (l) A county may require certain vegetative screening
359+19 surrounding a commercial wind energy facility or commercial
360+20 solar energy facility but may not require earthen berms or
361+21 similar structures.
362+22 (m) A county may set blade tip height limitations for wind
363+23 towers in commercial wind energy facilities but may not set a
364+24 blade tip height limitation that is more restrictive than the
365+25 height allowed under a Determination of No Hazard to Air
366+26 Navigation by the Federal Aviation Administration under 14 CFR
367+
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372+ SB1127 Enrolled - 11 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
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375+SB1127 Enrolled- 12 -LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b SB1127 Enrolled - 12 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
376+ SB1127 Enrolled - 12 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
377+1 Part 77.
378+2 (n) A county may require that a commercial wind energy
379+3 facility owner or commercial solar energy facility owner
380+4 provide:
381+5 (1) the results and recommendations from consultation
382+6 with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that are
383+7 obtained through the Ecological Compliance Assessment Tool
384+8 (EcoCAT) or a comparable successor tool; and
385+9 (2) the results of the United States Fish and Wildlife
386+10 Service's Information for Planning and Consulting
387+11 environmental review or a comparable successor tool that
388+12 is consistent with (i) the "U.S. Fish and Wildlife
389+13 Service's Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines" and (ii) any
390+14 applicable United States Fish and Wildlife Service solar
391+15 wildlife guidelines that have been subject to public
392+16 review.
393+17 (o) A county may require a commercial wind energy facility
394+18 or commercial solar energy facility to adhere to the
395+19 recommendations provided by the Illinois Department of Natural
396+20 Resources in an EcoCAT natural resource review report under 17
397+21 Ill. Admin. Code Part 1075.
398+22 (p) A county may require a facility owner to:
399+23 (1) demonstrate avoidance of protected lands as
400+24 identified by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
401+25 and the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission; or
402+26 (2) consider the recommendations of the Illinois
403+
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408+ SB1127 Enrolled - 12 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
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411+SB1127 Enrolled- 13 -LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b SB1127 Enrolled - 13 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
412+ SB1127 Enrolled - 13 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
413+1 Department of Natural Resources for setbacks from
414+2 protected lands, including areas identified by the
415+3 Illinois Nature Preserve Commission.
416+4 (q) A county may require that a facility owner provide
417+5 evidence of consultation with the Illinois State Historic
418+6 Preservation Office to assess potential impacts on
419+7 State-registered historic sites under the Illinois State
420+8 Agency Historic Resources Preservation Act.
421+9 (r) To maximize community benefits, including, but not
422+10 limited to, reduced stormwater runoff, flooding, and erosion
423+11 at the ground mounted solar energy system, improved soil
424+12 health, and increased foraging habitat for game birds,
425+13 songbirds, and pollinators, a county may (1) require a
426+14 commercial solar energy facility owner to plant, establish,
427+15 and maintain for the life of the facility vegetative ground
428+16 cover, consistent with the goals of the Pollinator-Friendly
429+17 Solar Site Act and (2) require the submittal of a vegetation
430+18 management plan in the application to construct and operate a
431+19 commercial solar energy facility in the county.
432+20 No later than 90 days after the effective date of this
433+21 amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the Illinois
434+22 Department of Natural Resources shall develop guidelines for
435+23 vegetation management plans that may be required under this
436+24 subsection for commercial solar energy facilities. The
437+25 guidelines must include guidance for short-term and long-term
438+26 property management practices that provide and maintain native
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444+ SB1127 Enrolled - 13 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
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447+SB1127 Enrolled- 14 -LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b SB1127 Enrolled - 14 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
448+ SB1127 Enrolled - 14 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
449+1 and non-invasive naturalized perennial vegetation to protect
450+2 the health and well-being of pollinators.
451+3 (s) If a facility owner enters into a road use agreement
452+4 with the Illinois Department of Transportation, a road
453+5 district, or other unit of local government relating to a
454+6 commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy
455+7 facility, the road use agreement shall require the facility
456+8 owner to be responsible for (i) the reasonable cost of
457+9 improving roads used by the facility owner to construct the
458+10 commercial wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy
459+11 facility and (ii) the reasonable cost of repairing roads used
460+12 by the facility owner during construction of the commercial
461+13 wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility
462+14 so that those roads are in a condition that is safe for the
463+15 driving public after the completion of the facility's
464+16 construction. Roadways improved in preparation for and during
465+17 the construction of the commercial wind energy facility or
466+18 commercial solar energy facility shall be repaired and
467+19 restored to the improved condition at the reasonable cost of
468+20 the developer if the roadways have degraded or were damaged as
469+21 a result of construction-related activities.
470+22 The road use agreement shall not require the facility
471+23 owner to pay costs, fees, or charges for road work that is not
472+24 specifically and uniquely attributable to the construction of
473+25 the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial solar
474+26 energy facility. Road-related fees, permit fees, or other
475+
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480+ SB1127 Enrolled - 14 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
481+
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483+SB1127 Enrolled- 15 -LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b SB1127 Enrolled - 15 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
484+ SB1127 Enrolled - 15 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
485+1 charges imposed by the Illinois Department of Transportation,
486+2 a road district, or other unit of local government under a road
487+3 use agreement with the facility owner shall be reasonably
488+4 related to the cost of administration of the road use
489+5 agreement.
490+6 (t) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a facility
491+7 owner with siting approval from a county to construct a
492+8 commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy
493+9 facility is authorized to cross or impact a drainage system,
494+10 including, but not limited to, drainage tiles, open drainage
495+11 districts, culverts, and water gathering vaults, owned or
496+12 under the control of a drainage district under the Illinois
497+13 Drainage Code without obtaining prior agreement or approval
498+14 from the drainage district, except that the facility owner
499+15 shall repair or pay for the repair of all damage to the
500+16 drainage system caused by the construction of the commercial
501+17 wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility
502+18 within a reasonable time after construction of the commercial
503+19 wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility
504+20 is complete.
505+21 (u) The amendments to this Section adopted in Public Act
506+22 102-1123 this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly do
507+23 not apply to: (1) an application for siting approval or for a
508+24 special use permit for a commercial wind energy facility or
509+25 commercial solar energy facility if the application was
510+26 submitted to a unit of local government before the effective
511+
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519+SB1127 Enrolled- 16 -LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b SB1127 Enrolled - 16 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
520+ SB1127 Enrolled - 16 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b
521+1 date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly; or
522+2 (2) a commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar
523+3 energy facility if the facility owner has submitted an
524+4 agricultural impact mitigation agreement to the Department of
525+5 Agriculture before the effective date of this amendatory Act
526+6 of the 102nd General Assembly; or (3) a commercial wind energy
527+7 or commercial solar energy development on property that is
528+8 located within an enterprise zone certified under the Illinois
529+9 Enterprise Zone Act, that was classified as industrial by the
530+10 appropriate zoning authority on or before January 27, 2023,
531+11 and that is located within 4 miles of the intersection of
532+12 Interstate 88 and Interstate 39.
533+13 (Source: P.A. 101-4, eff. 4-19-19; 102-1123, eff. 1-27-23.)
534+
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539+ SB1127 Enrolled - 16 - LRB103 05566 BMS 50585 b